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Bussard N, Casamassimo P, Amini H, Peng J, Wapner A, Meyer BD. Age of first dental visits: A benefit of the pediatric medical home. J Public Health Dent 2024. [PMID: 38684462 DOI: 10.1111/jphd.12619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This retrospective cohort study compared differences in age one dental visit use and age at first dental visit according to fluoride varnish receipt at the pediatric medical home. METHODS Enrollment and claims data were used from Partners For Kids, a pediatric accountable care organization covering Medicaid-enrolled children living in 47 of 88 counties in Ohio. The main outcomes were having an age one dental visit and the mean age at first dental visit. Descriptive statistics and bivariate comparisons were applied. RESULTS Among 17,675 children, 2.8% had an age one dental visit. The mean age at first dental visit was 4.8 years. Children who received fluoride varnish from their medical home (12% of study population) were significantly younger at their first dental visit (4.1 vs. 4.9 years, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION Despite longstanding recommendations for the age one dental visit, very few Medicaid-enrolled children in Ohio had one. The pediatric medical home lowered the age of first dental visit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie Bussard
- Division of Pediatric Dentistry, The Ohio State University College of Dentistry, Columbus, Ohio, USA
- Division of Dentistry, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Paul Casamassimo
- Division of Pediatric Dentistry, The Ohio State University College of Dentistry, Columbus, Ohio, USA
- Division of Dentistry, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Homa Amini
- Division of Pediatric Dentistry, The Ohio State University College of Dentistry, Columbus, Ohio, USA
- Division of Dentistry, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Jin Peng
- Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Andrew Wapner
- Division of Health Services Management and Policy, The Ohio State University College of Public Health, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Beau D Meyer
- Division of Pediatric Dentistry, The Ohio State University College of Dentistry, Columbus, Ohio, USA
- Division of Dentistry, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA
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Xu L, Sharma H, Wehby GL. The effect of nursing home closure on local employment in the United States. Health Serv Res 2023; 58:744-752. [PMID: 36573262 PMCID: PMC10154163 DOI: 10.1111/1475-6773.14125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To estimate the effect of nursing home closure on local employment, overall, and by rurality. DATA SOURCES AND STUDY SETTING We obtained 2008-2018 county-level data from the Quarterly Workforce Indicators, Medicare Provider of Services, Area Health Resource, and Urban Influence Codes files. From 2008 to 2018, 878 counties experienced at least one nursing home closure, and 2055 counties did not experience a closure. STUDY DESIGN Using a difference-in-difference study design, we compare the changes of total employment, health sector employment and non-health sector employment over time between counties with and without a nursing home closure. We utilize the variation in the year and quarter of nursing home closures to estimate subsequent employment changes as well as employment trends before closure. We also account for contemporaneous events including nursing home entries and hospital entries and closures, and evaluate heterogeneity by rurality. DATA EXTRACTION We include data on nursing home closure from the Medicare Provider of Service file. Quarterly county-level employee counts were obtained from the Quarterly Workforce Indicators provided by the Census Bureau. County-level demographic data were obtained from the Area Health Resource Files. We use Urban Influence Codes from the Economic Research Service, Department of Agriculture, to classify metropolitan, micropolitan, and rural (noncore) counties. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Health sector employment decreased by about 3.2%-4.1% (p < 0.01) in counties with a nursing home closure. The reduction was largest in rural counties (approximately 7.2%-9.4%, p < 0.01). The reduction in health sector employment persisted over time, particularly in rural counties. Overall, there was no discernable effect on non-health sector employment. CONCLUSIONS Nursing home closure is associated with a persistent decline in health sector employment, particularly in rural counties, suggesting a reduction in the health care workforce and in the ability to sustain health care services supply, particularly in rural areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lili Xu
- Department of Health Management and PolicyCollege of Public Health, The University of IowaIowa CityIowaUSA
| | - Hari Sharma
- Department of Health Management and PolicyCollege of Public Health, The University of IowaIowa CityIowaUSA
| | - George L. Wehby
- Department of Health Management and PolicyCollege of Public Health, The University of IowaIowa CityIowaUSA
- National Bureau of Economic ResearchCambridgeMassachusettsUSA
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Chen AYA, Opper IM, Dick AW, Stein BD, Kranz AM. Pediatric oral health services in Medicaid managed care and fee for service. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF MANAGED CARE 2023; 29:104-108. [PMID: 36811985 PMCID: PMC10100644 DOI: 10.37765/ajmc.2023.89319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES In 2008, Florida's Medicaid program began reimbursing medical providers for preventive oral health services (POHS) delivered to children aged 6 months to 42 months. We examine whether Medicaid comprehensive managed care (CMC) and fee for service (FFS) had different rates of POHS during pediatric medical visits. STUDY DESIGN Observational study using claims data (2009-2012). METHODS Using repeated cross-sections of 2009-2012 Florida Medicaid data for children 3.5 years or younger, we examined pediatric medical visits. We estimated a weighted logistic regression model to compare POHS rates among visits reimbursed by CMC and FFS Medicaid. The model controlled for FFS (vs CMC), years Florida had a policy allowing POHS in medical settings, an interaction between these 2 variables, and additional child- and county-level characteristics. Results are presented as regression-adjusted predictions. RESULTS Among 1,765,365 weighted well-child medical visits in Florida, POHS were included in 8.33% of CMC-reimbursed visits and 9.67% of FFS-reimbursed visits. Compared with FFS, CMC-reimbursed visits had a nonsignificant 1.29-percentage-point lower adjusted probability of including POHS (P = .25). When examining differences over time, although the POHS rate was 2.72 percentage points lower for CMC-reimbursed visits after 3 years of policy enactment (P = .03), rates were similar overall and increased over time. CONCLUSIONS POHS rates among pediatric medical visits in Florida were similar for visits paid via FFS and CMC, with low rates that increased modestly over time. Our findings are important because more children continue to be enrolled in Medicaid CMC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annie Yu-An Chen
- RAND Corporation, 20 Park Plaza, 9th Floor, Ste 920, Boston, MA 02116.
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Kranz AM, Gahlon G, Dick AW, Goff SL, Whaley C, Geissler KH. Variation in prices for an evidence-based pediatric preventive service. Health Serv Res 2022; 57:1175-1181. [PMID: 35467008 PMCID: PMC9441288 DOI: 10.1111/1475-6773.13995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine variation in prices paid by private medical insurers for fluoride varnish applications in medical settings, a newly reimbursed service that few children receive. DATA SOURCES Private-insurance medical claims from Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island (2016-2018). STUDY DESIGN We examined prices paid for fluoride varnish by private insurers and compared these to prices paid by Medicaid. DATA COLLECTION/EXTRACTION METHODS Private claims for fluoride varnish during medical visits for children aged 1-5 years. State Medicaid rates for fluoride varnish were obtained from the American Academy of Pediatrics. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Prices paid for fluoride varnish by private insurers varied within and across states, ranging from less than $5 to $50. Median prices closely followed Medicaid rates in three of the four states. In states covering a package of fluoride varnish plus additional preventive oral health services during medical visits, combined Medicaid rates were nearly double the median price paid by private insurers. CONCLUSIONS Fluoride varnish is a recommended service, but few children receive it. Price variation may contribute to the low uptake of this service. Ensuring sufficient Medicaid and private insurance rates could increase fluoride varnish applications in medical settings and improve oral health.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Sarah L. Goff
- School of Public Health & Health SciencesUniversity of Massachusetts AmherstAmherstMassachusettsUSA
| | | | - Kimberley H. Geissler
- School of Public Health & Health SciencesUniversity of Massachusetts AmherstAmherstMassachusettsUSA
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Kranz AM, Goff SL, Dick AW, Whaley C, Geissler KH. Delivery of fluoride varnish during pediatric medical visits by rurality. J Public Health Dent 2022; 82:271-279. [DOI: 10.1111/jphd.12518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Revised: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Sarah L. Goff
- Department of Health Promotion and Policy School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst Amherst Massachusetts USA
| | | | | | - Kimberley H. Geissler
- Department of Health Promotion and Policy School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst Amherst Massachusetts USA
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Goldstein EV, Dick AW, Ross R, Stein BD, Kranz AM. Impact of state-level training requirements for medical providers on receipt of preventive oral health services for young children enrolled in Medicaid. J Public Health Dent 2022; 82:156-165. [PMID: 33410186 PMCID: PMC9288108 DOI: 10.1111/jphd.12442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2020] [Revised: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Young children enrolled in Medicaid make few dental visits and have high rates of tooth decay. To improve access to care, state Medicaid programs have enacted policies encouraging nondental providers to deliver preventive oral health services (POHS) in medical offices. Policies vary by state, with some states requiring medical providers to obtain training prior to delivering POHS. Our objective was to test whether these training requirements were associated with higher rates of POHS for Medicaid-enrolled children <6 years. METHODS This study took advantage of a natural experiment in which policy enactment occurred across states at different times. We used Medicaid Analytic eXtract enrollment and claims data, public policy data, and Area Health Resource Files data. We examined an unweighted sample of 8,711,192 (45,107,240 weighted) Medicaid-enrolled children <6 years in 38 states from 2006 to 2014. Multivariable logistic regression models estimated the odds a child received POHS in a calendar year. Results are presented as adjusted probabilities. RESULTS Five or more years after policy enactment, the probability of a child receiving POHS in medical offices was 10.7 percent in states with training requirements compared to 5.0 percent in states without training requirements (P = 0.01). Findings were similar when receipt of any POHS in medical or dental offices was examined 5 or more years post-policy-enactment (requirement = 42.5 percent, no requirement = 33.6 percent, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Medicaid policies increased young children's receipt of POHS and at higher rates in states that required POHS training. These results suggest that oral health training for nondental practitioners is a key component of policy success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan V. Goldstein
- RAND Corporation, Arlington, VA,Ohio State University, College of Public Health, Columbus, OH
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Geissler KH, Dick AW, Goff SL, Whaley C, Kranz AM. Dental Fluoride Varnish Application During Medical Visits Among Children Who Are Privately Insured. JAMA Netw Open 2021; 4:e2122953. [PMID: 34459911 PMCID: PMC8406076 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.22953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
This cross-sectional study examines fluoride varnish application rates during well-child medical visits and identify characteristics associated with fluoride varnish receipt.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberley H. Geissler
- University of Massachusetts Amherst School of Public Health and Health Sciences, Amherst
| | | | - Sarah L. Goff
- University of Massachusetts Amherst School of Public Health and Health Sciences, Amherst
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Kranz AM, Estrada-Darley I, Stein BD, Dick AW. Racial/Ethnic Differences in Receipt of Oral Health Services in Medical and Dental Offices: Impact of Medicaid Policies on Young Children. Pediatr Dent 2021; 43:109-117. [PMID: 33892835 PMCID: PMC8075038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine receipt of preventive oral health services (POHS) by race/ethnicity for young Medicaid-enrollees following the enactment of state policies enabling medical providers to deliver POHS. Methods: Using Medicaid data (2006 to 2014) from 38 states for 8,711,192 child-years (aged six months to five years), logistic regressions were used to examine differences within and between racial/ethnic groups (white, black, Hispanic, and "other" race/ethnicity groups) in terms of adjusted probabilities of receiving POHS in medical offices or any medical or dental offices. Models were adjusted for years since policy enactment and estimated separately for states with and without requirements that medical providers obtain POHS training. Results: Receipt of any POHS was 10.9 percentage points higher for Hispanic children and 4.7 percentage points higher for "other" race/ethnicity group children than white children after five or more years of policy enactment in states with training requirements (P<0.05). Findings for medical POHS and states without training requirements were similar but smaller in magnitude. Conclusions: Hispanic and "other" race/ethnicity group children benefitted more from the integration of POHS into medical offices than white children. Policies enabling delivery of POHS in medical offices increased receipt of POHS among some minority groups and may help to reduce disparities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley M Kranz
- Dr. Kranz is a policy researcher, at the RAND Corporation, Arlington, Va., USA;,
| | - Ingrid Estrada-Darley
- Ms. Estrada-Darley is a PhD fellow and an assistant policy researcher, Pardee RAND Graduate School, Santa Monica, Calif., USA
| | - Bradley D Stein
- Dr. Stein is a physician and a senior policy researcher, RAND Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa., USA
| | - Andrew W Dick
- Dr. Dick is senior economist, RAND Corporation, Boston, Mass., USA
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Meyer BD, Danesh DO. The Impact of COVID-19 on Preventive Oral Health Care During Wave One. FRONTIERS IN DENTAL MEDICINE 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fdmed.2021.636766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Early childhood caries burdens children, their families, and the health care system. Utilizing fluoride varnish at medical well-child visits with non-dental primary care providers can be an interprofessional strategy to combat early childhood caries. The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically altered preventive health care delivery and the effects on preventive oral health care delivery have not been previously described.Methods: This analysis used descriptive statistics and non-parametric Wilcoxon Mann-Whitney tests to compare preventive oral health utilization among 1 to 5-year old children in two state Medicaid agencies before and during the pandemic. Fluoride utilization rates at dental visits and medical well-child visits were calculated as number of users per 1,000 enrolled children. Additionally, the proportion of well-child visits that included fluoride application was calculated for each state.Results: During the pandemic, the quarterly fluoride utilization rate significantly decreased at dental visits (pre-pandemic = 153.5 per 1,000 enrolled children; pandemic = 36.1 per 1,000 enrolled children, p < 0.001) and signficantly decreased at medical well-child visits (pre-pandemic = 72.2 per 1,000 enrolled children; pandemic = 32.3 per 1,000 enrolled children, p = 0.03) during the pandemic.Conclusions: The findings highlight the importance of interprofessional collaboration among non-dental primary care providers and dental providers to provide access to preventive oral health services, particularly when access to dentists is limited. Future directions might include rigorous evaluations of co-located medical and dental services or the use of interprofessional telehealth technologies.
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Simon L, Ahern J, Fox K, Barrow J, Palmer N. Variation in dental services by rurality among privately insured adults in the United States. J Public Health Dent 2020; 81:50-56. [PMID: 32918758 DOI: 10.1111/jphd.12398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Revised: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Rurality is associated with reduced dental access and worse oral health outcomes. It is unknown whether there is variation in dental services received by rural adults who visit a dentist. METHODS This was a retrospective analysis of claims data from a large private insurer. All individuals who had at least one dental visit in 2018 were included. Patient demographics, whether or not a patient's ZIP code was rural as defined by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, as well as ZIP code demographics were collected. Differences in the frequency of dental services received were evaluated using χ2 tests. Multilevel logistic regressions were used to evaluate the individual and ZIP code-level correlates of receiving a preventive dental procedure, a tooth extraction, or a denture-related dental procedure. RESULTS Rates of preventive, oral and maxillofacial surgery, and denture-related procedures were higher among rural adults. Accounting for individual age and gender, and ZIP code average income and dentist density, rural dwellers were more likely to receive a preventive procedure [odds ratio (OR) 1.15, P < 0.0001] or tooth extraction (OR 1.08, P < 0.0001), and less likely to have a denture-related procedure (OR 0.94, P = 0.015) compared to nonrural dwellers. Female gender was the strongest predictor of receiving a preventive procedure (OR 1.30, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS Even among privately insured individuals with known access to dental care, rurality was associated with significant differences in the frequency of various dental procedures. Rural dental patients may have higher needs for oral surgical procedures, even when they have access to preventive care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Simon
- Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.,Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - John Ahern
- Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kathe Fox
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jane Barrow
- Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nathan Palmer
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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Kranz A, Rozier R, Stein B, Dick A. Do Oral Health Services in Medical Offices Replace Pediatric Dental Visits? J Dent Res 2020; 99:891-897. [PMID: 32325007 PMCID: PMC7346745 DOI: 10.1177/0022034520916161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In the United States, state Medicaid programs pay for medical and dental care for children from low-income families and support nondental primary care providers delivering preventive oral health services (POHS) to young children in medical offices ("medical POHS"). Despite the potential of these policies to expand access to care, there is concern that they may replace dental visits with medical POHS. Using Medicaid claims from 38 states from 2006 to 2014, we conducted a repeated cross-sectional study and used linear probability regression to estimate the association between the annual proportion of children in a county receiving medical POHS and the probability that a child received 1) dental POHS and 2) a dental visit in a given year. Models included county and year fixed effects and controlled for child- and county-level factors, and standard errors were clustered at the state level. In a weighted population of 45.1 million child-years (age, 6 mo to <6 y), we found no significant nor substantively important association between the proportion of children in a county receiving medical POHS and the probability that a child received dental POHS or a dental visit. Additionally, we found an almost zero probability (<0.001) that the reduction in dental POHS was at least as large as the expansion in medical POHS (full substitution) and a 0.50 probability that increased medical POHS was associated with an increase in dental POHS of at least 6.6% of the expansion of medical POHS. Results were similar when receipt of dental visits was examined. This study failed to find evidence that medical POHS replaced dental visits for young children enrolled in Medicaid and, in fact, offers evidence that increased medical POHS was associated with increased utilization of dental care. Given lower-than-desired rates of dental visits for this population, delivery of medical POHS should be expanded.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - R.G. Rozier
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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Kranz AM, Ross R, Sorbero M, Kofner A, Stein BD, Dick AW. Impact of a Medicaid policy on preventive oral health services for children with intellectual disabilities, developmental disabilities, or both. J Am Dent Assoc 2020; 151:255-264.e3. [PMID: 32081299 DOI: 10.1016/j.adaj.2019.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2019] [Revised: 11/06/2019] [Accepted: 12/01/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Integrating preventive oral health services (POHS) into medical offices may ease access to care for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The authors examined the impact of state policies allowing delivery of POHS in medical offices on receipt of POHS among Medicaid enrollees with IDD. METHODS The authors used 2006 through 2014 Medicaid data for children with IDD aged 6 months through 5 years from 38 states. IDD were defined using 14 condition codes from Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Chronic Conditions Data Warehouse. The length of the state's medical POHS policy (no policy, < 1 year, 1 year, 2 years, 3 years, or ≥ 4 years) was interacted with an indicator that the child was younger than 3 years. The authors used logistic regression models to estimate the likelihood that a child received POHS in a medical office or in a medical or dental office in a given year. RESULTS Among 447,918 children with IDD, 1.6% received POHS in medical offices. Children younger than 3 years in states with longer-enacted policies had higher rates of receiving POHS. For example, the predicted probability of receiving POHS was 40.6% (95% confidence interval, 36.3% to 44.9%) for children younger than 3 years in states with a medical POHS policy for more than 4 years compared with 30.6% (95% confidence interval, 27.8% to 33.5%) for children in states without a policy. CONCLUSIONS State Medicaid policies allowing delivery of POHS in medical offices increased receipt of POHS among Medicaid-enrolled children with IDD who were younger than 3 years. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS Few children with IDD receive POHS in any setting. Efforts are needed to reduce barriers to POHS for publicly insured children with IDD.
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Lutfiyya MN, Gross AJ, Soffe B, Lipsky MS. Dental care utilization: examining the associations between health services deficits and not having a dental visit in past 12 months. BMC Public Health 2019; 19:265. [PMID: 30836954 PMCID: PMC6402128 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-019-6590-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2018] [Accepted: 02/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background A growing literature supports the contention that closing the divide between dental and medical care can improve access to and coordination of patient care. Health service deficits (HSDs) entail: no routine medical exam, no personal healthcare provider (HCP), no health insurance, and/or delaying medical care because of cost all within the last 12 months. Examining the associations between HSDs and dental care utilization could inform strategies and interventions aimed at narrowing the gap between the medical and dental professions. This study explored whether HSDs are associated with not having a dental care visit within the last 12 months. In addition, the study sought to provide an updated analysis of the characteristics and factors associated with dental care utilization. Methods Two thousand sixteen Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey data were analyzed using bivariate and multivariable techniques. The outcome variable for this study was: last dental visit was longer than 12 months ago. Results US adults without healthcare insurance, without a personal HCP, who had delayed medical care because of cost, and who had their last routine medical visit longer than 12 months ago had greater odds of not having a dental visit within the last 12 months. Further, this study identified disparities in dental care utilization among males, rural residents, those earning less than $50,000 per year, Non-Hispanic Blacks and Non-Hispanic other races. Individuals with six or more and/or all of their permanent teeth removed and current smokers also had greater odds of not having had a dental care visit in the past 12 months. Conclusions Findings suggest that a stronger integration of medical and dental care might increase dental care utilization. In addition, persistent disparities in dental care utilization remain for several demographic groups. Targeted interventions offer the promise of helping achieve HP 2020 goals for improved oral health.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Nawal Lutfiyya
- Department of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA. .,College of Dental Medicine, Roseman University of Health Sciences, 10920 S. River Front Parkway, South Jordan, Utah, 84095, USA.
| | - Andrew J Gross
- College of Dental Medicine, Roseman University of Health Sciences, 10920 S. River Front Parkway, South Jordan, Utah, 84095, USA
| | - Burke Soffe
- College of Dental Medicine, Roseman University of Health Sciences, 10920 S. River Front Parkway, South Jordan, Utah, 84095, USA
| | - Martin S Lipsky
- College of Dental Medicine, Roseman University of Health Sciences, 10920 S. River Front Parkway, South Jordan, Utah, 84095, USA
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