Be Part of the Solution — MOM-n-PA | May 31 and June 1 , Philadelphia | By Dr . Bruce R . Terry , Editor
Pennsylvania and several other states have seen a decrease in Medicaid funding for dental care . In October , 2011 , Pennsylvania stopped funding non-basic services for adults under Medicaid . Root canal treatment , crowns and bridges are no longer covered . This ensures extractions as the only viable alternative for Medicaid eligible adults in our state . But Pennsylvanians are not alone . Recently states like New Jersey , Illinois , Texas and Michigan have all reduced benefits for adult dental services . In each case , the cost of the program was cited as the reason for reducing funding . Nearly every state in the United States is faced with a lower tax base and increased expenses . As a result , lawmakers are making tough choices and cutting programs they feel are optional .
It ’ s obvious that I would pick this issue because it ’ s dental-related . We can all identify with the lack of importance that dentistry has in the pecking order of state-funded necessities . If it ’ s this easy to drop coverage for adult dental care , then how important is dental care to our lawmakers ? Can they see the forest for the trees ? Don ’ t they get the message that a lack of proper dental care for adults and children will cause a cascade of health and other associated problems , from systemic infections and ER visits to loss of work and productivity ? Do they understand that lack of access to dental care can also be psychologically painful ? Maybe if lawmakers were refused dental treatment for a few years they would know what it feels like to be an adult without access to dental care .
But I know that the lawmakers would answer my comments by saying that we have to make cuts somewhere . Someone has to lose . Something has to go . They would suggest that dentists should be more charitable and help make up this difference . But we know that charity alone is not going to solve this problem .
On May 31 and June 1 , a non-profit foundation in Pennsylvania will sponsor our state ’ s first large scale dental mission . This is not a PDA event . The MOM-N-PA dental mission intends to deliver care to more than 2,000 dental patients during this Friday / Saturday event . If you or someone you know would like to help , please visit www . mom-n-pa . com . You can read about what we are going to do during this event and you can register to help . We need volunteers to help with both patient care and non-patient care . Consider bringing your staff or adult family members . There is so much to do that we need every volunteer we can get . Pennsylvania has never had an event like this before , and certainly never in an inner city environment like North Philadelphia .
Restoring benefits for Medicaid adults is not going to happen anytime soon . But you can be part of the solution by either donating to the event or volunteering your time . Let ’ s show lawmakers that we ( dentists ) care . This type of event will help show our community that we care and that we are helpful and compassionate . You can help create goodwill for our profession and feel good doing it !
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