Three Point Plan #1

INCREASE DENTAL FUNDING

For more than three decades, government-sponsored dental health care programs have been grossly under-funded by the State of Illinois. In 2002, the General Assembly even voted to reduce Medicaid dental funding by seven percent to help balance the state’s budget.

Illinois has one of the lowest funding rates in the U.S. for most dental procedures. Dentists who treat patients covered by programs such as Medicaid, KidCare, All Kids, Family Care and Illinois Covered are reimbursed only about $46 for every $100 in fees. About 64 percent of a typical dentist’s fee is the basic cost of care. Funding rates do not even cover the out-of-pocket costs of keeping doors open, supplies, and staff salaries.

Increase in dental funding means improved access to care for families

It has been clearly shown in the six states where funding increases brought dental payment rates to a level that simply covered expenses, provider participation increased by at least one-third and in some cases doubled. That’s according to a 2008 study by the National Academy for State Health Policy. Raising dental funding rates in Illinois would bring better care to thousands of working poor Illinois families. And the change is long overdue. To provide necessary dental services, the funding rates must be raised to at least 64 percent of the average cost for dental procedures.

The Ask

Bridge to Healthy Smiles is asking the Illinois General Assembly to appropriate $94 million to the dental line in the state budget.