Any cuts to the Medicaid program could lead to drastic consequences for dental practices and patients, according to Barry Lyon, DDS.
Dr. Lyon, a chief dental officer for the division of orthodontics and pediatric dentistry for Dental Care Alliance, spoke with Becker’s about Mehmet Oz, MD, and his recent confirmation hearing to oversee the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Editor’s note: This Q&A is part of a weekly series featuring Dr. Lyon focused on topics in the dental industry and DSO field. This response was lightly edited for clarity and length.
Dr. Barry Lyon:
Dr. Mehmet Oz did everything but answer direct questions at his recent confirmation hearing to oversee the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Dr. Oz deftly sidestepped the question when asked if he was going to cut Medicaid. His response was glibly non-committal.
Medicaid spending is approximately $600 billion per year and covers 40% of America’s children and 80% of poverty-level children. Joan Alker of the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families said “Cuts of this magnitude will have devastating impacts on state budgets as well as the more than 70 million children, families, pregnant women, low-income adults, people with disabilities and seniors who rely on Medicaid for their health insurance.”
What this means for dentists and DSOs is that they can expect to see a reduction of eligible patients, along with a reduction in reimbursements. If you are a dentist treating Medicaid patients or you are a DSO supporting offices treating Medicaid patients, then your economic outlook for 2025 and beyond becomes bleaker.
This is the same Dr. Oz who once touted unproven products for weight loss claims and was the subject of a request by a group of doctors from across the country who asked Columbia University to remove him from their faculty list. He may have been a noted cardiothoracic surgeon, but he’s no wizard when it comes to protecting the most vulnerable and poverty-stricken Americans.
