ILLINOIS
We are facing an oral health crisis in Illinois. 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. The Surgeon General’s report on oral health documented linkages between oral disease and a number of serious health conditions. These included sinus infections, weakened immune systems, diabetes and heart and lung disease. Poor oral health as a child can have long-term health implications into adulthood and is proven to impact a child's self-esteem and ability to perform in school.
Barriers to Oral Health Care in Illinois
- Illinois has one of the lowest Medicaid reimbursement rates in the nation for critical dental procedures.
- Funding rates have remained stagnant for more than 30 years and dental facilities are being eliminated in areas that have no other options for dental services, despite an increase in the number of patients who now rely on public aid.
- Sixty-eight of Illinois’ 102 Counties have been designated as underserved by the federal government. That means more than half of all Illinois counties lack access to dental care.
- The Illinois Department of Public Health listed 168 community-based dental clinics operating in Illinois. That is just one dental clinic for every 8,400 children enrolled in Medicaid. Most of these clinics perform limited procedures such as exams, cleanings and fillings, and operate only part-time hours.
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COOK COUNTY
“After losing my job and health insurance I was in desperate need to find a dental clinic to treat my children. That's when I learned that Cook County Clinics don't take patients on public aid. That was the beginning of a frustrating and painful process.”
—Jamila Lawrence, Chicago |
Access to Care in Cook County is Among the Worst in Illinois
Cook County is designated as a Dental Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) by the federal government. Often referred to as “underserved,” residents in these areas have limited or no access to local dental care. More than 1.4 million Cook County residents are registered for government health care, nearly half of the state’s public aid population—making access to care among the worst in Illinois. It is estimated that one-third of Illinois’ underserved population lives in Cook County, resulting in significant barriers to dental care for these residents.
For many Cook County residents, public clinics remain the only option for dental care. Dental programs have been cut and clinics closed while the number of children and adults who rely on public dental care has increased. There are just four dental clinics operated by the Cook County Department of Public Health to treat the more than two million suburban residents. There is just one clinic for every 15,700 uninsured children. Cook County dental clinics only except qualified suburban patients and do not accept public aid.
Some other facts are:
There is just one clinic for every 15,700 uninsured children.
In Cook County, 48 percent of third graders have experienced cavities and 27 percent have untreated cavities.
In Chicago, 64 percent of third graders have experienced cavities and 36 percent have untreated cavities.
Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH) dental clinics do not accept public aid patients and only accept qualified residents of suburban Cook County.
Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH) dental clinics offer only basic dental care referring specialty procedures to Stroger Hospital Oral Surgery or University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry where patients can possibly wait another 2 – 3 months for treatment.
According to the Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH) Dental Program Study from December 2010:
- Between 2005 and 2009, Cook County closed half of its dental clinics, leaving just four clinics in Bridgeview, Ford Heights, Maywood and Rolling Meadows. This resulted in the majority of the county’s population having no access to dental services.
- In 2000, the Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH) served close to 11,900 dental patients. In 2009, fewer than 5,000 patients were treated.
- There are no county operated dental clinics in the City of Chicago.
- The average wait time for initial and follow-up visits is two to three months.
- The average wait time for emergency care is three weeks.
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