Medicaid funding cuts under the recently passed federal budget could exacerbate accessibility issues in Southeast Ohio, WOUB reported Sept. 11.
Seven notes:
1. President Donald Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act July 4. The bill is expected to lead to a decrease in Medicaid spending by nearly $1 trillion.
2. The Southeastern region of Ohio is a federally designated dental professional shortage area.
3. The region suffers from a shortage of dentists, hygienists and other office staff, with six counties missing a safety net clinic and eight counties having fewer than 10 dentists.
4. The shortages have led dentists in the region to do more cleanings, as well as longer wait times for patients.
5. There are several initiatives in the state to support the workforce, including a program that helps dental staff at FQHCs become dental assistants and loan repayments for dentists who work in shortage areas.
6. Although there are no dental schools in the region, a program at Hocking College has helped grow the workforce. The college hopes to expand its program to its main campus in Nelsonville so that it can double its class enrollment capacity to 40.
7. Oral Health Ohio Executive Director Marla Morse told WOUB she is worried that federal funding cuts could lead the state to remove coverage for adult dental services. Updated eligibility requirements could also lead more individuals to lose their Medicaid coverage.
