The Columbus Dispatch : Dental clinics try to fill care gap as poor turn to ERs
The Columbus Dispatch : Dental clinics try to fill care gap as poor turn to ERs:
Columbus Ohio is fluoridated:
"Siegal said some dentists are unwilling to treat Medicaid patients because the state reimburses dentists for only about half the cost of treatment. He said about 25 percent of Ohio dentists file Medicaid claims each year."
About 4 million Ohioans lack dental coverage.
Most of those who show up at Ohio State University Medical Center with emergency dental problems could have prevented them with routine care, such as cleanings,
"The tooth is so decayed that it has to be pulled … but generally, we don't pull teeth in the emergency department," he said.
"An extraction is reimbursed at less than $100, but not extracting can cost the state hundreds or thousands of dollars in emergency-room visits or even an admission" to a hospital,
Columbus Ohio is fluoridated:
"Siegal said some dentists are unwilling to treat Medicaid patients because the state reimburses dentists for only about half the cost of treatment. He said about 25 percent of Ohio dentists file Medicaid claims each year."
About 4 million Ohioans lack dental coverage.
Most of those who show up at Ohio State University Medical Center with emergency dental problems could have prevented them with routine care, such as cleanings,
"The tooth is so decayed that it has to be pulled … but generally, we don't pull teeth in the emergency department," he said.
"An extraction is reimbursed at less than $100, but not extracting can cost the state hundreds or thousands of dollars in emergency-room visits or even an admission" to a hospital,
posted by FluorideNews at 3:43 AM
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