In order to bridge the gap for those in need of dental care, it is critical that the State of Illinois help dentists treat more patients by raising Medicaid reimbursement rates for dental care. The goal of the “Bridge to Healthy Smiles” campaign is to provide more options and better access for patients in need of dental care.
Unfortunately, 40% of Illinois counties have inadequate access to dental care for low-income families. That means a large number of poor and near-poor children and adults will not see a dentist this year. That's because Illinois has one of the lowest dental reimbursement rates in the nation for most common dental procedures. Since the State of Illinois pays only about 46 cents on the dollar for dental care, the typical dentist loses about 54% on each service. Thus, many dentists are unable to treat those families who are insured by Medicaid—the families who need dental services most. Bridge to Healthy Smiles proposes an additional $80 Million to the dental budget line to provide more access to dental treatment. Read more

The Bridge to Healthy Smiles campaign asks for increased public funding to establish additional public dental clinics in rural and low income communities. The clinics will create more places for dentists to practice and for low income families to receive needed dental care. Dentists in these clinics are required to see low income and working poor families. We propose opening 10 dental clinics in 10 underserved areas across Illinois by 2010. The Bridge to Healthy Smiles campaign calls for a $2 million public funding increase to support these additional public dental clinics to bring vital dental treatment to those most in need. Read more

The Bridge to Healthy Smiles campaign creates an incentive for new dentists to begin their careers in communities where people have inadequate access to dental care. The average new dentist has accumulated an enormous educational debt by the time he/she graduates. Our student loan incentive program will allow dentists to apply for loan forgiveness in exchange for working in areas of the state that are designated as underserved. As a requirement, these dentists further agree to serve low income patients in their practices. For new dentists, it provides some debt relief and a fresh start in dentistry helping children and adults. For everyone in the community, it provides improved access to dentists and the diagnostic, restorative and specialty care services that are currently unavailable to them. Read more