The declining number of dentists who accept Medicaid is making it difficult for low-income patients to access care, The Virginian-Pilot reported May 3.
Eight things to know:
1. Virginia expanded Medicaid dental coverage for adults in July 2021 beyond emergency services to include preventive and basic services such as exams and fillings.
2. The expanded benefits has led to an influx of new patients, but dental clinics are having trouble fitting these patients into their already filled schedules.
3. The number of dental providers that accept Medicaid has decreased from 2,031 in 2017 to 1,888, according to data from the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services.
4. Sophie Parson, director of the Augusta Regional Dental Clinic in Fishersville, Va., said the problem has led some patients refusing to use their benefits to try to be seen faster, and staff members are working 10-hour shifts to meet the demand.
5. The dental clinic started a waitlist in February that currently has more than 200 people on it.
6. The state Department of Medical Assistance Services is looking to add more dental providers to alleviate the wait times for patients.
7. Lyndon Cooper, DDS, PhD, dean of the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry in Richmond, said reimbursement rates for Medicaid services have not increased in 15 years, making it hard for oral healthcare workers to provide these services.
8. The school is also struggling to keep up with the high number of patients. The number of Medicaid patients over the age of 21 visiting the school for dental care has increased by 67 percent over the past nine months.