| 3414 Effect of Payment Changes on the Patterns of Dental Care | ||
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M.E. STANCHAK, School of Dentistry, University of MIchigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA, and S.A. EKLUND, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA Objectives: In 2000, the Michigan Department of Community Health initiated a dental demonstration program, Healthy Kids Dental (HKD) , for Medicaid-enrolled children in selected counties. HKD is administered privately through Delta Dental Plan of Michigan (DDPM), uses Delta-affiliated providers, and offers reimbursement levels identical to those paid for private dental insurance plans. Early assessments of the HKD program revealed improvements in both access and utilization for these Medicaid-eligible children. This study investigates the impact of HKD on the patterns of dental care. Methods: Enrollment and claims data were obtained for children covered by HKD and DDPM private insurance from May 2000 through April 2003. Comparisons of the mix of dental services received were made between similarly aged children. Results: The numbers of paid restorative, endodontic, and extraction procedures per child were consistently greater for HKD children compared to privately-insured DDPM children. During their first year of treatment through HKD, children ages 6-12 averaged approximately 1.39 restorative, 0.09 endodontic, and 0.31 extraction procedures, while similarly aged DDPM children received only 0.69 restorative, 0.03 endodontic, and 0.21 extraction procedures. After three years of care through HKD, patterns for the same 6-12 year olds moved towards those of DDPM children by averaging approximately 1.13 restorative, 0.06 endodontic, and 0.26 extraction procedures in their third year of treatment. Conclusion: The mix of dental services received by Medicaid-eligible children during their first year of care through HKD demonstrates their greater need for restorative, endodontic, and extraction procedures when compared to privately-insured children of similar ages. Nonetheless, the shift in patterns of dental services received by HKD children towards those of privately-insured children shows that over time, the needs of HKD children begin to resemble the needs of privately-insured children. This study was supported by the AADR, the University of Michigan, and NIDCR center grant 5U54DE014261-03. | ||
| Seq #355 - Stress, Health Promotion, and Clinical Trials 10:15 AM-11:30 AM, Saturday, 13 March 2004 Hawaii Convention Center Exhibit Hall 1-2 | ||
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