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Columbus County health director says county is a dental-provider shortage area; clinic sees roughly 900 children annually
Summary
Health Director Kim Smith reported that Columbus County is designated a dental health provider shortage area, that the county operates both an in-house dental clinic and a two-chair mobile unit, and that proposed state legislation (House Bill 60) could raise Medicaid dental reimbursement.
Columbus County Health Director Kim Smith told commissioners the county is listed as a dental health provider shortage area and described the county's clinic operations and funding.
Smith said North Carolina has 151 operating safety-net dental clinics; of those, 41 public-health departments maintain active dental clinics and six — including Columbus County's health department — operate both in-house and mobile units. Smith said the county has five dentists and that, by federal Health Resources & Services Administration calculations cited in her presentation, Columbus County was estimated to be 5.9 dentists short of recommended supply.
The county's dental program was started in 1999 with a Kate B. Reynolds grant and now provides care for children up to age 19 through an in-house three-operatory clinic and a two-operatory mobile unit (tooth mobile). Smith said the clinic and mobile unit together average about 900 children per year who likely would not otherwise access dental care.
Smith described county funding sources for the clinic: Medicaid-billed services, administrative Medicaid dollars, state child-health funds (approximately $80,000 annually, with roughly $30,000 assigned to the dental clinic), and local appropriations, which Smith said typically range from $250,000 to $300,000 a year. Smith said the clinic's overall annual budget averages $500,000 to $600,000.
Smith noted the General Assembly was considering House Bill 60, which she said would increase Medicaid reimbursement rates for dental services; she added that dental rates have not seen a meaningful increase since 2008. The board expressed appreciation for the clinic's work and Smith's service; no vote was required or taken on the presentation.
Smith also explained the county refers children who need more complex care to specialists in neighboring counties and that clinic staff provide education visits to daycares and schools. Commissioners praised the program and thanked the health director for her long service.
