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There are now more than 42,000 poor and disabled Idaho residents without nonemergency dental coverage under Medicaid. These numbers come after the state was forced to make budget cuts aimed at saving around $1.7 million.
Still, it could have been worse for the Idaho residents. The emergency dental coverage from Medicaid is still offered in the state.
Dental coverage wasn’t the only type of coverage that suffered. Podiatry, optometry, and chiropractic services were also cut. There have been numerous calls to the Idaho Department of Health to complain about the reduced coverage.
The total amount of funding Idaho cut from Medicaid this year was $34 million.
The reduced amount of dental coverage will create problems for the federally qualified clinics that charge patients on a sliding scale.
Some dentists, like Idaho State Dental Association President Dr. Jack Fullwiler—he still has his own practice—have to chose whether or not they’ll still treat Medicaid patients. But, in some cases, they’ll have to do it for free.
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