New Hampshire lawmakers approved expanded access to Medicaid basic dental benefits for adults, but there is a lack of dentists in the state who accept Medicaid, the New Hampshire Bulletin reported Aug. 5.
Here are five notes on the report:
1. Nearly 85,000 adults in New Hampshire are eligible for Medicaid basic dental benefits under the new policy.
2. Approximately 16 percent of dentists in New Hampshire take Medicaid, according to the New Hampshire Bulletin.
3. Oral health advocates said that to expand oral health care access, more than 30 percent of the dentists in the state need to accept Medicaid.
4. Advocates are offering incentives to providers to accept Medicaid, including having others complete the paperwork, schedule appointments and transport patients.
5. New Hampshire will look for dental care or Medicaid management care companies to provide administrative support and case management to expand care for those on Medicaid, the news outlet said.