South Carolina will provide preventive dental benefits to adult Medicaid clients in the state for the first time starting Dec. 1, according to a report by The State.
South Carolina was one of 16 states that offered only emergency dental benefits through Medicaid. The S.C. Department of Health and Human Services, which administers Medicaid, has decided to provide dental benefits to Medicaid beneficiaries, including cleaning, fillings and extractions. South Carolina already offers dental care to children under Medicaid.
According to the report, the payout for adding the benefits is estimated at $35 million in 2015 and $40 million in 2016 for the state DOH. However, federal Medicaid funds will cover around 70 percent of the cost.
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