IDENTIFYING THE PROBLEM

Illinois continues to neglect adequately funding dental health care for Illinois’ low- middle income families which has left a serious access to dental care gap for millions of people who desperately need treatment. Two-thirds of those enrolled in government sponsored health care are children. The impact of poor oral health to the 1.6 million children forced to rely on public aid is especially serious because of links to social issues, inability to focus in school and long term health risks.

More than 60% of Illinois counties are identified as Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas by the federal government which means families who desperately need dental care often go without treatment. That’s in large part because Illinois has among the lowest funding rates for oral health care in the nation. Only 1.4% of the state budget for health care programs administered by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, is spent on oral health. While there are plenty of dentists to treat public aid patients, deplorable funding rates make it difficult for these patients to receive care.

FUNDING NOT KEEPING UP WITH THE DEMAND

More than 2.6 million people are enrolled in state sponsored health insurance. While Illinois has experienced a steady increase in public aid enrollment, funding rates for the most critical procedures have not increased in more than 30 years. In fact, funding has been cut and dental facilities eliminated in areas that have no other options for dental services. Current funding rates for the 5 most common specialty care procedures cover just 26% of the procedure cost, far below the national average.

This graph illustrates how Illinois compares to the 10 most populous states in funding rates for four out of the five most common procedures. These four procedures account for more than 70% of all specialty care procedures performed in 2009. On average, Illinois funding rates are 86% below the similarly populated states.

PROVIDING CARE FOR ILLINOIS CHILDREN

Inadequate funding can have especially serious consequences for the 1.6 million children who depend on government health care programs. Poor oral health as a child can lead to long-term health implications and is proven to impact a child’s self-esteem and ability to excel in school. There is just one dental clinic for every 8,400 children on public aid. In Illinois, 55 percent of third graders experienced cavities and 29 percent have untreated decay. A Surgeon General’s report on oral health documented linkages between oral diseases and ear and sinus infections, weakened immune systems, diabetes, heart and lung disease as well as many other serious health conditions. Low-income children are at risk and oral health remains a critical health policy challenge.

STARTLING STATISTICS

• There is an undeniable link between overall health and oral health.  Studies show that poor oral health may be linked to heart disease, stroke, pre-term childbirth and oral cancer.
• Oral cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the United States among African-American males and the seventh most common cancer among Caucasion males. More than 40 percent of persons diagnosed with oral cancer die within five years of diagnosis, mostly due to late diagnosis.
• Patients in more than 60 percent of Illinois counties lack access to dental care.
• Budget cuts have caused some public dental clinics to close leaving a ratio of just one clinic for every 8,400 children who rely on public aid.
• In Illinois, 55 percent of third graders have experienced cavities, 30 percent have untreated cavities, and four percent have urgent treatment needs. In Cook County, 64 percent of third graders have experienced cavities and 38 percent have untreated cavities.
• For patients who need specialty care the drive could be more than five hours to find a dentist who specializes in their condition.