The Marion County Health Department operates ten dental clinics and one mobile vehicle and provides dental health services to residents of Marion County which includes Indianapolis. Prior to Indiana Medicaid increasing the reimbursement to dental providers, access to care through the medicaid program was limited due to an inadequate number of participating providers that were enrolled in the program. In an effort to improve access to care, members of the local dental societies, government officials and other community leaders joined forces to form the Dental Health Coalition. Activities of the Dental Health Coalition were successful in increasing access to care through increased reimbursement and increased provider participation. Comparison of the reimbursement rates and provider participation prior to the activities of the Dental Health Coalition will be provided along with other information that led to this positive outcome.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, participants will be familiar with the circumstances and procedures involved that brought about increases in the State of Indiana Medicaid reimbursement rates and the affects these changes had on provider participation and client utilization. Participants will also be familiar with the factors that led to the formation of the Dental Health Coalition.
Keywords: Access to Care, Government
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.