There’s a little-known federal law that, if properly enforced, could revolutionize dental care.
This law is important to every dentist and dental patient – whether you work with Medicaid or not.
This article is meant to empower states across the nation – on how to improve access to care for both Medicaid and Non-Medicaid patients.
The Child-Medicaid Law That Changes Everything:
42 U.S.C. 1396a (30)a – which is part of the Federal Medicaid Act’s under 21 (child) requirement – states that Medicaid must provide “payment sufficient to enlist enough providers so that care and services are available under the plan at least to the extent that such care and services are available to the general population in the geographic area.”
The key words are “payment sufficient to enlist” and “at least.”
In this enlightening interview, Dr. Mo Rizkallah, an orthodontist from Massachusetts, discusses his three-point platform for the American Alliance for Dental Insurance Quality (AADIQ). He emphasizes the establishment of a dental loss ratio, the importance of Medicaid Act compliance across states, and the fight against the expansion of value-based care. Dr. Rizkallah wants a resolution to be adopted by the ADA, advocating for rigorous compliance with Medicaid laws to ensure sufficient payment to enlist enough providers, thereby improving access to care for children under Medicaid. He explains how Medicaid policies indirectly influence private insurance and overall dental care standards, making it crucial for all dentists to be aware and involved.