September 7, 2010 | 11:32 AM | By

Dental Misery: MassHealth Cuts Take Toll

FILED UNDER: Insurance, Personal Health, dental, health care for all, masshealth

Massachusetts led the way toward getting more people covered by health insurance, but recently it took a notable step in the other direction.

As of July 1, about 700,000 poor adults statewide lost their dental coverage through MassHealth, the public health insurance program, as a result of budget cuts. CommonHealth asked Christine Keeves of the advocacy group Health Care For All how the cuts were playing out.

Q:What are you seeing as a result?

A:  Health Care For All has a HelpLine that can answer general insurance questions, tell folks what free and lower-cost programs they may be eligible for, and help them to apply all in quick and easy telephone call. They have experienced a spike in calls now that the cut has been made. Our Helpline counselors have already collected stories from every corner of the state from MassHealth members who are in pain, unable to eat, sleep, or work because of dental pain, and who are getting sicker and sicker while they try to find care.

· A Worcester woman, pregnant and on disability, needs two root canals that she cannot get because the procedure is no longer covered, which is endangering the health of her and her unborn child.

· A Mattapan man who has had 8 extractions cannot get the dentures he needs not only to go on job interviews (which we all know is incredibly important, especially in the current economic climate), but also for such basic functions as eating and speaking.

· Our Helpline counselors are in the process of assisting a Springfield woman who is mentally ill and diabetic. She had to have all of her teeth pulled in June. In light of this cut she is unable to get dentures. Her doctor warns that she will die without the dentures.

These are just three stories that represent a much larger problem. Oral health is overall health and with the implementation of these cuts we are already hearing from people across the state experiencing undue, and preventable, pain and suffering.

Q: Are people finding any alternatives for dental care?

A: There are 48 community health center dental clinics in the state where people can access care. Over 700,000 individuals were affected by these cuts. The health centers are doing remarkable work and trying hard to expand their reach to these new clients. Because of the cut, a huge number of people need care, and the number of options for services available to them has decreased dramatically.

Q:  Why was this particular chunk of state spending targeted?

A: When Massachusetts passed health reform, dental services were determined fundamental. However, these benefits are the only piece of MassHealth that is not legally mandated by the federal government. Cutting adult dental benefits is a step backwards for health reform in the Commonwealth.

Q: What’s the outlook?

A: We have been here before, when MassHealth adult dental benefits were cut in 2002. The legislature and administration recognize the impact of these cuts — restoring the program just comes down to money. The state will be receiving additional revenue from the federal government in the form of FMAP funds, and this is a great option to restore these critical benefits. We urge the legislature to allocate these funds to the MassHealth dental program.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_MRJVTXJCBU3S2SC66FQSEJC5WI Monzy Haha

    Fear and the dentist’s chair are always associated. Truth is, there is an actual phobia about the dreaded seat. Many popular dental procedures, like root canal treatment and the attachment of braces, are known for excruciating pain. Fortunately, not all operations are painful, thanks to sedation dentistry. Sedation dentists are called into action for serious dental operations. They administer anesthetics to patients, to conceal pain.
    http://sedationdentistryblog.com

  • Wendy Kupferman, M. Ed.

    When Jane Swift cut dental benefits for MassHealth adult recipients check-up, cleaning, extractions & dentures were the services still covered. At that time I lost teeth requiring root canals and fillings because I would have risked dying from the severity of the infection of the teeth requiring root canals, and the ones needing fillings were very painful and falling apart. It was horrifying to have those teeth pulled, and then get poorly fitting dentures which cut my mouth and make it difficult to eat, & make me self-conscious because my teeth are different colors and heights. I had an approval for a new lower denture but it wasn’t started by July 1, which means I can’t get it because of the recent cutbacks.
    I just finished a program to return to my work as a professional in the health field. My teeth look awful, and the dentist told me we should pull ALL of my teeth, which is still covered by MassHealth, as are check-ups and 1 cleaning. I am appalled by the cutback that will not even cover dentures if I have all of my teeth pulled, many of which do not need to be. Governor Patrick, like many poor people in the state, I want & need to work, but without teeth or dentures, who will hire the most competent job applicants? I voted for Patrick but now he is reminding me of the famous lady who was best known for saying “Let Them Eat Cake!”

  • http://www.hardysmiles.com James G. Hardy, DDS

    My North Carolina practice is proud to be part of the national campaign: Oral Healthcare Can’t Wait. People are anxiously wondering how health care reform will affect them. They ought to be concerned that dental care is being overlooked; it reamins one of the most common unmet health care needs. Meanwhile, tooth decay is the most common disease in the world.

    A federal initiative – dubbed HealthyPeople 2010 – has defined significant health threats and is working toward establishing national goals to prevent and reduce them. Seventeen of these objectives relate directly to oral health. This setback is Mass. dental care is testament to the disconnect between setting public health priorities and securing funding. According to federal statistics, 82 million adults and 26 million children have no dental insurance.