Boston, MA, March 29, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The National Commission on Disability (NCD) recently issued a report titled “Medicaid Oral Health Coverage for Adults with Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities – A Fiscal Analysis” to President Biden. The report highlights the proven link between oral health and a person’s overall health, as well as the importance of oral health care to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). Medicaid plays a critical role in determining what care is available to the 60% of individuals with I/DD who receive health care coverage through their state’s Medicaid program, according to the report.
Based on the findings, NCD makes specific recommendations for changes at the federal and state levels to ensure state Medicaid programs across the country include adult dental coverage for people with I/DD. In addition, the report details the costs and savings by state. A number of states currently provide an emergency-only dental benefit to adults with I/DD, while several others provide no dental benefits at all. Other states, like Texas and Louisiana, are highlighted in the report as examples of how states can expand dental coverage to Medicaid members with I/DD. In Louisiana, the state Medicaid program will begin offering a comprehensive dental benefit to adults with I/DD this summer. Meanwhile, Texas offers dental coverage to people with I/DD through several waiver programs.