Senate Human Services Committee hears testimony calling for study of dental access for Medicaid recipients, Native American children and people with disability

Representative Mary Schneider (R-District 21) asked the Senate Human Services Committee on Wednesday to approve an interim study of unmet dental and oral health needs for low-income children, Native American children and people with disabilities in North Dakota.

Schneider said the study would examine the scope and causes of poor access and produce plans, goals, costs and timetables to remediate the problem. “It's both shocking and shameful that after the attention from past studies and the admissions of unmet needs, we haven't addressed the problem of dental access in a permanent and meaningful way that solves a problem for Medicaid recipients,” Schneider said.

Why it matters: Providers, community health centers and advocates told the committee that shortages of dentists and administrative barriers to Medicaid enrollment are leaving many patients without routine or emergency dental care. Testimony documented rising emergency visits for tooth pain, widespread untreated decay among children and large disparities for Native American residents and people with disabilities.

Providers and advocates said the study should cover Medicaid reimbursement, administrative…