Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Dental Clinic topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Wayne County Board weighs reopening county dental clinic to expand Medicaid access
Summary
At a June 4 special meeting in Lyons, Wayne County supervisors heard a presentation on reopening the county dental clinic to serve Medicaid and low-income residents; the board reached consensus to continue feasibility work and requested additional cost and staffing details.
The Wayne County Board of Supervisors on June 4, 2026 discussed reopening the county-operated dental clinic to address limited access to care for Medicaid and low-income residents and agreed to continue studying the proposal rather than take immediate action.
Supervisor Fantuzzo said "the purpose of the discussion was to gauge the Board’s interest in potentially reopening the county dental clinic," emphasizing that the meeting was intended to inform whether staff should pursue deeper study and resource commitments.
Public Health Deputy Director Kerry VanAuken told the Board the county faces "a significant dental health access crisis that disproportionately affects low-income residents who lack adequate insurance coverage and cannot afford private dental care." She noted only one of the county's 16 dentists currently accepts Medicaid and that out-of-county providers who accept Medicaid are not taking new patients, a gap she said a county clinic could help fill.
Presenters laid out a preliminary staffing model and cost estimates. The plan described one full-time dentist, one full-time dental assistant, one full-time dental hygienist and one full-time office manager/biller. Equipment costs were estimated at approximately $246,000, with overall startup costs estimated at roughly $400,000 on the high end; presenters said offers from local dentists to donate or sell excess equipment at reduced prices could lower upfront expenses.
Supervisors offered conditional support but asked for more detail on personnel costs and sustainability. Supervisor Pisciotti requested detailed salary breakdowns before committing, Supervisor Mettler said serving the community is part of the county’s responsibility, and Supervisor MacDougall said the clinic could benefit county employees as well as the public, estimating initial patient demand could exceed 2,000 individuals.
Supervisor Rose recommended focusing services on the Medicaid population ages 0–18. Supervisor Chatfield encouraged the presenters to proceed with additional research and cost estimates. The Board reached a consensus to let the group continue gathering information and to return with further details at upcoming Health and Medical Committee meetings; no formal vote to reopen the clinic was taken at the June 4 meeting.
Procedural actions at the session included a motion to adjourn made by Supervisor Chatfield and seconded by Supervisor Mettler; the Board adjourned at 10:52 a.m. The next meeting was scheduled for June 16, 2026, at 9 a.m. in the Supervisors Chambers in Lyons.
