Carlton Clemons, a 67-year-old from Nashville, Tennessee, endured months of crippling pain from a rotting wisdom tooth due to his inability to afford dental care on the $1,300-a-month his family receives in Social Security and disability payments. Fortunately, Tennessee introduced a program this year to offer dental care to over 650,000 Medicaid recipients aged 21 and older. This initiative costs the state about $75 million annually.

Medicaid, the federal and state health insurance program for the poor, generally requires states to provide dental coverage for children but not for adults. However, recognizing the economic and health costs of poor dental health and receiving federal pandemic funds, six states expanded their Medicaid programs this year to include dental coverage for adults.

While these changes are welcomed, many Medicaid beneficiaries still face challenges accessing dental care, as some dentists refuse to treat Medicaid patients, and others are caught up in bureaucratic red tape. Low Medicaid reimbursement rates are a common issue that discourages dentists from treating those in need. In some states, as few as 15% of dentists accept Medicaid patients, leading to long wait times and extensive travel for care.

Oral health problems can result in emergency room visits and lost productivity, costing billions of dollars annually. Therefore, there is a growing recognition that oral health is intertwined with overall health care. While some states have made progress in expanding dental coverage for Medicaid recipients, others still offer limited benefits, leaving many without access to crucial dental care.