MILWAUKEE – Governor Jim Doyle today unveiled a new plan to provide all children in Wisconsin with access to comprehensive dental care. The Governor’s plan will address the shortage of providers that offer care, dedicate more than $4 million to growing successful programs targeting underserved kids and families, and invest $8.8 million to create a new statewide system that will expand access to dental care for children and families across Wisconsin.
“There are children across our state who can’t sleep at night, who can’t concentrate in school because their teeth hurt and we must get them the care they need,” Governor Doyle said. “My plan will enact a fundamental change to the status quo, which has not done justice to our kids or our families. At a time when the majority of dentists have declined to serve kids that are enrolled in Medicaid, we need a new system that provides these kids with a way to get the care they need. By allowing more providers to offer care, expanding successful dental programs, and creating a new statewide program to provide dental care, we will ensure that every child in Wisconsin has access to comprehensive dental coverage.”
Governor Doyle made his announcement at Madre Angela Clinic in Milwaukee, which provides dental services to 5,000 adults and children each year through walk-ins and appointments. Madre Angela also provides urgent dental care in Milwaukee for people without insurance. In addition, the clinic provides restorative care, dental appliances, dental hygiene services and a children’s dental sealant program.
Dental decay is the number one chronic disease of childhood, particularly among low-income children who often do not have access to a dentist. In fact, 70 percent of children who are eligible for dental care are not getting the services they are eligible for because they can not find dentists who are willing to see them.
Many low-income families, seniors and people with disabilities struggle to find oral health care services, even if they are on Medicaid, BadgerCare, or Healthy Start because there is not a dentist in their area who will accept them. Wisconsin currently provides comprehensive dental coverage for approximately 500,000 children and adults enrolled in Medicaid, BadgerCare, and Healthy Start, but 75 percent of these individuals do not have access to a dental care provider.
The Governor’s plan will:
Enable More Providers to Offer Dental Care
In order to ensure that every child has adequate access to oral care, the Governor’s plan calls for a permanent change in Medicaid rules that will allow dental hygienists to be reimbursed from Medicaid for
dental care services.
In September 2006 Governor Doyle enacted this rule change, enabling more than 4,000 dental hygienists in Wisconsin to provide better access and receive fair compensation for their work. Now hygienists are able to work independently and claim Medicaid reimbursement, expanding and maximizing the effectiveness of our dental health workforce. The Doyle Administration already expanded reimbursement to doctors who do fluoride varnishes and hygienists employed by local HealthCheck agencies.
Prior to the change, state law allowed dental hygienists to provide preventative care without a dentist’s authorization only in schools, public health settings and in technical colleges where dental hygiene education is taught.
Grow Successful Dental Programs
Governor Doyle has directed the Department of Health and Family Services (DHFS) to award $4.25 million in one-time grants to grow successful dental programs that are providing access to underserved children and families, including $1.8 million in grants which DHFS Secretary Kevin Hayden will award in the coming weeks.
Today, Governor Doyle awarded a $349,800 grant to the AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin (ARCW) to increase access to dental care in Milwaukee and Green Bay.
Last year, the Administration awarded the following grants:
· Scenic Bluffs Dental Clinic, Cashton, La Crosse County, $350,000
· Madre Angela Dental Clinic, Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, $140,000
· Brown County Oral Health Partnership, $341,000
· Marquette University School of Dentistry, Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, $1 million
· Family Health La Clinica, Wautoma, Waushara County, $75,000
· Lakeshore Technical College, Cleveland, Manitowoc County $75,000
· Oneida and Vilas Counties, $75,000
· Tri-County Clinic, Appleton, Outagamie County, $75,000
· Rural Health Dental Clinic, Menomonie, Dunn County, $75,000
Create New System to Expand Dental Access Statewide
As part of his BadgerCare Plus program, Governor Doyle will invest $8.8 million to create a new statewide system that will expand access to dental care for children and families across Wisconsin. These funds will be directed to new and existing community-based dental clinics that will be focused exclusively on providing dental services for low-income kids. This is a major commitment that will ensure access to preventive, diagnostic, and restorative dental services for children and families.
This funding will be used to implement new strategies to ensure that all children and families currently enrolled in the BadgerCare Plus and family Medicaid program have access to comprehensive dental care. The comprehensive dental care system will ensure access to preventive, diagnostic, and restorative dental services for eligible for children and families.
Community-based providers, such as Madre Angela clinic in Milwaukee, will be encouraged to apply for funding to increase access to dental health care services throughout the state.
