The dentists of Arkansas and the Arkansas State Dental Association (ASDA) proudly support the Arkansas Medicaid dental program. With one of the highest participation rates in the nation, more than 700 Medicaid-enrolled dentists currently treat those patients most in need of dental care across our state. However, the decision to enroll and re-enroll as Medicaid providers grows increasingly difficult for Arkansas dentists. The rising costs of materials, lab fees, and staff time associated with dental Medicaid coverage are but a few of the issues our dentists face. Moreover, the reimbursement rate for Medicaid-covered services last set back in 2007 inadequately addresses these expenses.
As you may know, the Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) recently opted not to continue with the dental managed care organization (MCO) system which facilitated the dental Medicaid system for the last several years. Instead, DHS decided to transition Arkansas dental Medicaid back to a fee for service (FFS) system. This means that Medicaid-enrolled dental practices will now be directly responsible for keeping track of and filing claims for Medicaid-covered services and seek to be reimbursed directly for those services. While cutting out the middleman serves to cut costs for DHS, this change incurs additional staff time and costs on enrolled dental practices. As a result, many dentists face the difficult choice of whether to continue as a Medicaid provider.
A 2022 survey of Arkansas dentists (n=212) currently providing services to Arkansas Medicaid beneficiaries indicated some serious concerns:
- 90.4% of responding dentists indicated that Arkansas Medicaid does not adequately reimburse them for services provided.
- 73.6% indicated that if Medicaid rates remain at the current level they may have to stop treating Medicaid beneficiaries in the future.
- Only 7.6% of dentists indicated that they will still be Medicaid providers within 3 years of 2022 if rates do not increase.
The Medicaid dental providers of Arkansas raised these concerns over two years ago, and they only grow larger and more dire today. As 2025 fast approaches, so too approaches an access-to-care crisis for one of Arkansas’ most vulnerable patient demographics. Nothing short of prompt and decisive support by DHS will avert this looming cessation in dental Medicaid coverage.
RATIONALE and REQUEST:
On behalf of all current Medicaid-enrolled Arkansas dentists, the ASDA requests an increase in the current dental Medicaid reimbursement rate, last established in 2007 to be increased for all covered treatments and services at a rate necessary to maintain the current level of providers.By way of this proposal, ASDA demonstrates its long-held objective of advocating for the oral health of our public by advocating for the success and support of our dentists and dental workforce. The issues facing our dental Medicaid system are many and complex, but we are committed to working together with our fellow stakeholders to find creative and lasting solutions.
