Pennsylvania lawmakers decried the lack of dental benefits under the state's Medicaid program during a recent hearing, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported April 12.
Gov. Josh Shapiro’s proposed $19 billion budget for the Department of Human Services includes an eight percent increase for Medicaid dental fees.
During an April 11 hearing on the proposed budget, lawmakers questioned the effectiveness of fraud prevention in the state’s Medicaid program and noted the lack of a specific number for increased funding.
Acting Human Services Secretary Val Arkoosh, MD, said the state had a fully funded dental program for lower-income residents that was discontinued in 2011. She said it would cost about $170 million to reinstate it.
Rep. Jordan Harris said it is unfair for patients to receive extractions for teeth that could be saved if they could afford it.
Rep. Emily Kinkead noted that the number of dentists per 100,000 residents is declining and that the state is on the lower end for dentist salaries and reimbursement rates. She also spoke of the anguish in patients' voices in voicemails seeking help from a dentist, calling the situation "absolutely tragic."