Conn. mulls cutting adult dental Medicaid

Connecticut would eliminate its subsidies for non-emergency dental benefits for adults under a plan proposed by Gov. M. Jodi Rell, according to a report in the New Haven Independent

Because of declining revenues, the state is looking for ways to save money. Dental benefits for children are required in exchange for federal matching funds for Medicaid, but adult benefits are not.

Under the plan, which Rell first unveiled in February, adults could still get dentures, X-rays, limited oral evaluations, emergency treatments for dental pain, and extractions. The state would save about $50.7 million over two years by eliminating all other subsidized dental care for adults, according to the report.

About 208,000 adults would be affected by the cuts, which the Legislature will take up in a special December session.

The Connecticut Dental Association argued that the cuts would not actually result in savings.

"While the CSDA fully understands the dire economic circumstances facing the state and understands the terrible task that the governor and Legislature face as they once again try to close the budget deficit, jeopardizing the health of hundreds of thousands of Connecticut's most needy and vulnerable residents is not the way to do it," said Dr. Bruce Tandy, President of the CSDA, according to the newspaper.

"Any short term savings will evaporate when the state is forced to pay dramatically higher health-care costs as those without coverage develop serious oral and general health issues and seek costly emergency room care; in fact, emergency room dental care is ten times greater than the cost of routine dental visits in a dentist's office."