Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy vetoed $50 million from the state's Medicaid budget last week, cutting dental benefits for patients, according to Anchorage CBS affiliate KTVA.
The state slashed $27 million that was budgeted for dental benefits for adults on Medicaid, which included around 30,000 people, KTVA reports.
Anchorage Dental Group has begun notifying Medicaid patients about the dental cuts. While dentists in the community were expecting cuts to benefits, they did not think the entire program would be eliminated, Anchorage dentist James Hyer, DDS, said.
Children on Medicaid have not been affected by the budget cuts. Additionally, adults who need emergency care for immediate relief of pain or acute infection will be covered.
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The state slashed $27 million that was budgeted for dental benefits for adults on Medicaid, which included around 30,000 people, KTVA reports.
Anchorage Dental Group has begun notifying Medicaid patients about the dental cuts. While dentists in the community were expecting cuts to benefits, they did not think the entire program would be eliminated, Anchorage dentist James Hyer, DDS, said.
Children on Medicaid have not been affected by the budget cuts. Additionally, adults who need emergency care for immediate relief of pain or acute infection will be covered.
More articles on dental:
Florida man charged with practicing dentistry without license, again
Kentucky Medicaid insurer to cut dentists' reimbursement up to 35%
28 DSO affiliations, partnerships in 2019