Advertising
CareerConnection
Classifieds
Community Activities
Consumer Awareness
Jewel & CE
Media Room
Member Application
Member Benefits
Oral Health Topics
WDA Foundation
Home
Terms of Use
Contact Us
RSS Feeds
|
Get news and information about accessing dental care, including the Donated Dental Services program and the difficulty so many of the state's Medicaid/BadgerCare recipients face in accessing necessary dental care.
|
Audit shows state overpaying HMOs millions for dental care The Legislative Audit Bureau confirmed WDA concerns that Medicaid patients enrolled in health maintenance organizations in Milwaukee, Waukesha, Racine and Kenosha counties have greater trouble accessing dental care than patients covered under a straight fee-for-service program in the other 68 counties of the state. Letters to legislators from BadgerCare Plus recipients Many BadgerCare Plus recipients are confused and frustrated by the new program. If you're one of these patients, tell your local state representative(s). The WDA has developed four letter templates for you to customize and send to your legislators as another way to show them how a system that was supposed to help all Wisconsin residents has, in some instances, actually hindered their ability to access care.. Why dentists don't (and won't) cost-shift Many public advocacy groups, staff at the state Department of Health & Family Services and state legislators have asked the WDA why dentists do not treat all people who need of dental care and cost-shift the losses on to private sector patients, as is done in medicine. Medicaid/Two Cents for Tooth Sense™ Wisconsin's low-income children and adults are unable to access dental care with the same frequency as patients who are not dependent on the state's Medicaid/BadgerCare program. Dental access improves in states where fair market rates are implemented. If legislators are unwilling to make dental access a priority within the 2007-08 budget, the WDA proposes fair reimbursement rates be provided by implementing a fee on distributors, manufacturers and wholesale dealers of soda. Dental Medicaid PowerPoint View a PowerPoint presentation highlighting the dental access issue from WDA member dentists’ perspective. The 17-slides include graphic photos of the substantial treatment needs of many low-income children and adult patients and documented, below-market reimbursement received by dental practices from the state’s MA program. Dentists Do Serve & Make a Difference This is a sample of WDA members’ charitable dental care efforts, demonstrating that “Dentists Do Serve (DDS)” their communities and “Dentists Make a Difference (DMD)” for underserved children and adults. Charitable care is wonderful, but it is not a viable system for delivering dental care to the state’s estimated 875,000 Medicaid and BadgerCare patients. Donated Dental Services Donated Dental Services (DDS) is a program directed at those who are unable to afford needed dental care because of a limited income that is clearly linked to a permanent disability, chronic illness or advanced age (65 and older). |
© 2008, WDA Wisconsin Dental Association 6737 W. Washington St. Suite 2360, West Allis, WI 53214 Tel 414-276-4520 Fax 414-276-8431