Medicaid

Oral health procedures to be covered by adult dental Medicaid starting in January

Date: December 13, 2013
Author: Dawn Jacobs
Categories: Adult Dental, Emergent Care, Medicaid

State health officials have released additional information concerning dental procedures that will be covered for Medicaid-eligible adults in Washington state, starting on Jan. 1, 2014.

An update on those procedures was recently shared at November meeting of the Washington Coalition on Medicaid Outreach by Dianne Baum, dental program manager for the Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA). The covered procedures include exams, X-rays, cleanings, fluoride varnish, fillings, periodontal care, root canals, dentures, extractions, and emergency services. Crowns will not be covered.

See the presentation for more details and the HCA’s news release from Oct. 10, 2013.

Starting in January, the Washington Medicaid Program will resume covering dental services for all adults with Medicaid. This includes residents who already have Medicaid and people who are eligible for “expanded Medicaid,” made possible by federal health care reform.

State-wide program leads country helping low-income children

Date: December 2, 2013
Author: Dawn Jacobs
Categories: ABCD, Child Dental, Medicaid, Oral Health Strategies

ABCD LogoKudos to Washington state. The Washington Dental Service Foundation (WDSF) reports the state has been recognized as a national leader in providing preventive dental care to young children from low-income families.

Statewide more than 54 percent of Medicaid-enrolled children under age 6 are currently receiving dental care, according to an announcement on Nov. 21, by the WDSF. The number of children accessing care has increased dramatically in large part because of the Access to Baby and Child Dentistry (ABCD) Program, which was recently expanded to every county in the state.

The ABCD Program has been serving children in Pierce County since 2005. More information about the ABCD Program in Pierce County can be found on the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department web site.

State announces details on adult dental Medicaid benefit restoration

Date: October 14, 2013
Author: Dawn Jacobs
Categories: Adult Dental, Health Care Authority, Medicaid

The Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) has announced the types of dental procedures that will be provided with the restoration of the adult dental Medicaid benefit by the Washington State Legislature during the last legislative session. The benefit will be restored on Jan. 1, 2014.

The benefit previously had been reduced to emergency-0nly coverage as a result of budget cuts implemented by lawmakers in response to declining state revenues.

According to the HCA, the new benefit covers restorative and preventative services, resin partials and complete dentures, root canals, cavities, and routine checkups and cleanings, as well as emergency services.

The HCA reported the Medicaid program would begin notifying dentists this month that the benefit would be restored on the first day of the new year, and that offices and clinics could start making appointments with Medicaid clients after that date.

A copy of the HCA news release can be found on the agency’s web site.