A new study found expanding Medicaid coverage for dental services will not ultimately reduce ER visits, according to The Washington Post.
Here are eight things to know:
1. Medicaid patients would still encounter limited access to dentists willing to take them on as patients.
2. The study found that areas undergoing an expansion of Medicaid dental coverage, particularly in urban areas, were not linked to fewer ER visits.
3. Rural counties with an abundance of dental providers did experience a drop in ER visits when coverage was expanded, indicating the issue lies in being able to find care.
4. In New York, only 20 percent of dentists will accept public aid patients. A mere 15 percent of dentists in Florida will see public aid patients.
5. Between 2001 and 2008, visits for minor dental conditions increased by 41 percent.
6. Several states have taken steps to expand dental coverage for some Medicaid patients. Colorado introduced limited adult coverage for the first time last year. California, Illinois, Massachusetts and South Carolina reinstated their benefits after cutting them in 2007.
7. As of January 2013, approximately 45 million Americans were living in areas with shortages of dental care providers.
8. The shortages are likely to increase as more dentists are approaching retirement.
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