Insufficient Medicaid reimbursement rates are leading community health centers in Connecticut to scale back or completely eliminate dental services, newstimes reported Feb. 25.
Ten notes:
1. Community Health & Wellness Center, which has several locations in the state, will no longer offer dental care after Feb. 28. Patients will instead be referred to UConn Health in Farmington, Conn.
2. CHWC CEO Joanne Borduas told newstimes that her organization lost $350,000 in 2024 on major dental procedures alone, not including routine services.
3. The lost revenue and difficulties finding staff led to the center's decision to cut its dental services.
4. StayWell Health Center in Waterbury, Conn., also plans to stop offering crowns and root canals due to rising costs.
5. StayWell patients in need of these services will now be referred to private dentists in the area who accept Medicaid, although there are not many.
6. More than 60% of patients at Connecticut health centers are under Medicaid, while 16% are uninsured, making these centers the primary healthcare provider for more than 400,000 residents.
7. Medicaid services cost Connecticut $9.8 billion 2024, according to data from KFF.
8. Connecticut lawmakers are currently considering increasing the state's Medicaid budget after learning that the state is behind others in reimbursement rates.
9. Ms. Borduas, along with StayWell President Don Thompson, said they would consider reinstating dental care services if the state's reimbursement rates are increased.
10. Gov. Ned Lamont has reportedly been reluctant to add funding to Medicaid, instead proposing that the state save money by shifting certain Medicaid costs to hospitals. However, the Connecticut Hospital Association has pushed back against the proposal.