Proposed Minn. dental cuts could land more in ERs
Dr. Stephen MacLeod sees patients whose toothaches have sprouted into infections so bad that Hennepin County Medical Center’s emergency doctors call him for help.
The oral surgeon expects more of those calls if the state cuts dental coverage for adults.
Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s fix for a projected $4.8 billion deficit would stop covering all but emergency dental care for more than 390,000 adults. Dentists who treat patients on public insurance would no longer get state payments to offset their costs. The Republican’s plan would also pare back on routine dental care for state prison inmates.
Total savings: About $51 million through mid-2011.
Minnesota is not alone. California, Florida, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota and other states are considering dental cuts as they face financial troubles. States aren’t required to cover dental care for adults under Medicaid, and those that do often cut it in tough times.
Dentists warn of long-term costs as untreated tooth problems turn into emergencies.
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