Dental leaders across the U.S. are growing more concerned with the accessibility of oral healthcare as federal threats loom.
The dental industry has been dealt several blows over the last few weeks regarding funding, research, workforce development and policy. Many dental leaders in the U.S. were left scrambling last month after the Health and Human Services Department unexpectedly gutted the CDC oral health division as part of its restructuring plan.
Additionally, lawmakers are considering slashing funding for Medicaid and the National Institutes of Health while cutting workforce programs as part of budget reconciliation efforts. Adding fuel to the fire is skepticism by lawmakers and other federal officials about fluoride, leading to objections from medical and dental organizations who have long endorsed the mineral as a successful public safety measure when used at recommended levels.
HHS Secretary RFK Jr. discussed oral health measures during a House Appropriations Committee hearing May 14. While voicing his commitment to dental health and acknowledging the connection between oral health and overall wellbeing, Mr. Kennedy continued to reference a heavily contested study that linked higher levels of fluoride exposure with lower IQ in children.
Dental industry experts warn that decreased access to fluoride could exacerbate dental issues particularly in rural and underserved communities, which already struggle with a shortage of dentists and affordable treatment options. More patients experiencing dental issues can also increase the burden on clinics who are being slammed with funding challenges.
Becker’s has reported on several clinic closures this year due to budgetary shortfalls, including federal funding cuts.
Mr. Kennedy told committee members that his goal for the HHS Department is to do more with less, a feat that could prove difficult for the healthcare and dental industries.
Melissa Burroughs, the senior director of policy for the CareQuest Institute for Oral Health, told Becker’s that cuts to Medicaid would most likely lead states to cut dental benefits, which would then cause patients to lose coverage as well as lead to additional clinic closures.
“With dental care, it’s absolutely not possible to do that,” she said. “States are squeezed in terms of their budget. If they are affected by a lot of these new provisions that would add administrative burden but also constraints on how states can pay for Medicaid costs, dental benefits are the first things that are going to go.”
Additional dental clinic closures could further burden hospitals as patients flock to their emergency rooms for treatment, particularly in rural communities. However, patients may have even fewer options if hospitals continue to close. Becker’s has already reported on several hospitals and health systems that have either cut services, decreased their workforces or shut down completely due to financial challenges. Health system leaders have also warned lawmakers that Medicaid cuts would further destabilize the healthcare system.
“A hospital is the last place you want to go to get dental care, but it is a fallback if you live in an area that would be affected,” Ms. Burroughs said. “Rural hospitals are already at risk of closing, and then there are policies and Medicaid proposals [that are] going to be a real risk for rural hospitals that may be the last resort for dental relief and obviously a lot of other medical needs. That goes to the extreme of what could come with these cuts.”
Ms. Burroughs said CareQuest hopes to work with lawmakers more in the future to ensure that oral health is a focal point for Congress in addition to other areas of healthcare.
“We hope to work with this administration to really move things forward and ensure that commitment to oral health is reflected in how we continue to operate programs and continue to provide health coverage and continue to make public health policy in ways that ensure oral healthcare is accessible and not too expensive,” she said.
