The Economics of Medicaid Dental Care: How Global Budget Methods Affect Reimbursement

Abstract

The primary factor in level of participation by dentists in Medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance (SCHIP) programs is the level of reimbursement received. The purpose of this article is to describe how the use of the global budget method used by managed care vendors, or their subcontractors, discourages dentists from participating in Medicaid/SCHIP programs, ultimately decreasing access to oral health care for the lower-income populations. The author posits that the global budget method is misapplied to Medicaid/SCHIP systems, and the experience of Missouri is used to demonstrate problems in reimbursement to dental providers.

Recommended Citation

Squillace, Joseph (2009) "The Economics of Medicaid Dental Care: How Global Budget Methods Affect Reimbursement," Poverty & Public Policy: Vol. 1 : Iss. 2, Article 7.
DOI: 10.2202/1944-2858.1008
Available at: http://www.bepress.com/pso_poverty/vol1/iss2/art7