A panel of dentists, lawmakers and public health professionals met Nov. 5 to discuss ways to improve the state’s workforce shortages, Spectrum News reported Nov. 5.
Five notes:
1. The panel discussed several methods to address the shortages, including incentivizing more dentists to accept Medicaid and increasing reimbursements.
2. The panel agreed the state must increase reimbursements for MaineCare, the state’s Medicaid program.
3. The panel also voted to ask the Maine Board of Dental Practice to consider options to recruit more dentists into the state’s Medicaid program.
4. Panel members were divided on whether the state should allow dentists to substitute experience for certain mandated educational requirements for a license.
5. The panel will share its recommendations with lawmakers, who will consider whether to advance legislation on the issues.
