BACKGROUND: The authors present a two-year evaluation of a dental society-managed dental care program in Washington state. A variation of the Access to Baby and Child Dentistry, or ABDC, program, the Mom & Me program was initiated to increase access to dental care for Medicaid-enrolled children younger than age 6 years in Yakima County. METHODS: This evaluation includes enrollment and visit data, first- and second-year cost data and results of a survey conducted with dental society members. RESULTS: The number of dentists treating Medicaid-enrolled children on a regular basis more than doubled, from 15 to 38 general dentists. In the first two years of the program, 4,705 children were enrolled and approximately 51 percent visited a dentist. CONCLUSIONS: The responses of dentists surveyed were positive, and the authors suggest that a dental society-managed program under the ABCD program -umbrella is a unique strategy for improving access to dental care for Medicaid clients. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: ABCD programs provide an avenue for dentists to treat children who otherwise would not receive care.
BACKGROUND: The authors present a two-year evaluation of a dental society-managed dental care program in Washington state. A variation of the Access to Baby and Child Dentistry, or ABDC, program, the Mom & Me program was initiated to increase access to dental care for Medicaid-enrolled children younger than age 6 years in Yakima County. METHODS: This evaluation includes enrollment and visit data, first- and second-year cost data and results of a survey conducted with dental society members. RESULTS: The number of dentists treating Medicaid-enrolled children on a regular basis more than doubled, from 15 to 38 general dentists. In the first two years of the program, 4,705 children were enrolled and approximately 51 percent visited a dentist. CONCLUSIONS: The responses of dentists surveyed were positive, and the authors suggest that a dental society-managed program under the ABCD program -umbrella is a unique strategy for improving access to dental care for Medicaid clients. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: ABCD programs provide an avenue for dentists to treat children who otherwise would not receive care.
Authors: Christophe Bedos; Christine Loignon; Anne Landry; Paul J Allison; Lucie Richard Journal: BMC Health Serv Res Date: 2013-11-05 Impact factor: 2.655