Proposed changes to Medicaid eligibility could result in 480,000 U.S. children losing dental coverage each year through 2034, generating nearly $87 million in additional healthcare costs over a decade, according to a new study by researchers at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM).
Published in JAMA Network Open, the study used decision-analytic modeling and data from nearly 12,000 children to project oral health outcomes and costs linked to coverage disruption. Researchers estimate that coverage loss would also result in 95,799 additional cases of tooth decay in children over 10 years, as families unable to afford out-of-pocket costs forgo early treatment.
Source: Study: Medicaid cuts could cost $87M in dental care / DrBicuspid.com