Lewis C, Smith R; AcademyHealth. Meeting (2005 : Boston, Mass.).
Abstr AcademyHealth Meet. 2005; 22: abstract no. 3171.
University of Washington, Pediatrics, UW Box 354920, Seattle, WA 98195 Tel. 206-616-1205 Fax
RESEARCH OBJECTIVE: Disparities in dental visits have been attributed to various factors including difficulties finding a provider who accepts Medicaid, transportation limitations, and an incomplete understanding by families of the importance of dental care. While dentists participation in Medicaid is known to be low in many states, the degree that this imposes difficulties on families seeking dental care for their children is unclear. To better understand this, we sought to determine the proportion of dental offices in King County, WA who would provide a new appointment to young children of various ages and insurance types and to obtain this information from the perspective of parent calling the dental office. STUDY DESIGN: A simulated parent phone call was made to 508 randomly chosen dental offices in King County. Of these, 291 offices provided preventive dental care to children. Data were collected on youngest age seen, whether Medicaid was accepted, and time to first available appointment. POPULATION STUDIED: The availability of preventive dental care appointments for young and low-income children in King County, Washington. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: In King County, more than 99% of dental offices who provided care to children would see new patients 5 years and older, but only 15% of these offices would accept this age group children on Medicaid. 9% of dental offices would accept under 1-year-olds for a new preventive visit but just 3% accept this age group children with Medicaid. The average wait time for an appointment varied between 0.8 and 1.5 weeks, on average. There was no statistical difference in the wait time between offices that accepted and did not accept Medicaid patients or by youngest age patient accepted. CONCLUSIONS: Adhering to recommendations for early initiation of dental care will be difficult given limited access for young and Medicaid insured children. Moreover, children at greatest risk for early childhood caries, that is, low-income children, are those least able to obtain needed preventive dental services, despite the fact that dental care is a mandated Medicaid benefit for children under EPSDT (Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment program). IMPLICATIONS FOR POLICY, DELIVERY OR PRACTICE: Current efforts to educate low-income families about the importance of professional dental care and to encourage primary care physicians to refer patients for early dental care will not be effective if dentist participation in caring for these groups is not addressed.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Appointments and Schedules
- Child
- Child Health Services
- Dental Care
- Dental Care for Children
- Dental Caries
- Family
- Health Care Surveys
- Health Services Needs and Demand
- Hospitals, Chronic Disease
- Humans
- Medicaid
- Washington
- economics
- hsrmtgs
UI: 103622634
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