Nine Wisconsin safety net dental clinics will receive $850,000 as part of a state budget initiative to increase access to oral healthcare, state health officials announced.
"This funding will allow these clinics to increase staffing and expand services to more individuals in need of dental care services," stated Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) Secretary Dennis G. Smith in a press release.
In 2010, only 36% of individuals enrolled in Medicaid and BadgerCare Plus programs and who were eligible to receive dental services actually did so, according to the DHS. Currently, 680,000 children and adults are enrolled in these programs and are eligible for comprehensive dental coverage.
The state hopes to lower long-term healthcare costs associated with oral disease.
Below are the clinics receiving funding:
- Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
- Madison Dental Initiative, Madison
- Brown County Oral Health Partnership, Green Bay
- Ministry Dental Center, Stevens Point
- Chippewa Valley Technical College, Eau Claire
- Rural Health Dental Clinic, Turtle Lake
- Healthy Teeth Healthy Communities, Manitowoc
- Waukesha Community Dental Clinic, Waukesha
- Bread of Healing Clinic, Milwaukee
