Medicaid Expansion With Adult Dental Coverage Results In Reduced ER Visits For Oral Care

A recent study has found that the combination of Medicaid expansion coverage with dental coverage in Medicaid can reduce the number of low-income adults who visit the emergency department for dental care. States that expanded Medicaid with dental coverage experienced a 14% decrease in dental emergency department visits. The states that did not expand dental coverage under Medicaid had an increase of up to 28% in emergency department utilization for dental care.

Medicaid is the public health insurance program for low-income Americans. Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), some states have chosen to expand Medicaid coverage to previously . . .