The logic and reasoning behind the governor’s elimination of Medicaid’s adult preventive dental services is mind boggling, especially when our federal dollars pay 70% of this essential and necessary health service.
The amount of the veto for the Adult Preventive Dental Medicaid Services is $27,004,500.
The state’s portion is $8,273,600.
The federally authorized portion lost to us is $18,730,900.
Why this administration decided to lose out on nearly $19 million in federal funds doesn’t make sense.Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, as well as Congressman Don Young, have already fought for this federal appropriation towards Alaskans’ basic dental services.Our legislators spent months to hammer out a budget that included this basic dental service.
The Alaska Dental Society expressed its disappointment and stated on KTUU, “Eliminating Adult Preventive will unfortunately not provide the cost relief the governor is seeking. Adult Preventive’s goal is to treat dental disease early before it reaches major -- and expensive -- requirements. By treating cavities and gum disease, early Medicaid recipients are able to avoid more costly treatment or, if the cavity reaches the stage of causing an infection, possibly a trip to an emergency room. Care delivered in an ER is four to five times more expensive than care delivered in a dental office and ultimately is only palliative in nature – that is it relieves symptoms, but does not cure the problem.”
How and why did this administration elect to forego nearly $19 million significant federal dollars to care for our fellow citizens’ essential dental needs when it has already been authorized, appropriated and affirmed by our congressional delegation, our legislators and our dentists?
— Andrée McLeod
Anchorage
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