People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) experience poorer oral health and more difficulty in finding, getting to, and paying for appropriate oral health care, relative to people without IDD. This disparity results in greater periodontal disease, untreated dental caries, systemic health problems, and lower life quality than members of the general population. This project will analyze state Medicaid oral health coverage and evaluate the cost of increased Medicaid costs of preventive oral health services, relative to the benefit of reducing delivery of oral health care for people with IDD in emergency and operating rooms. The report will also discern the extent that states are using Medicaid waivers to provide accessible oral healthcare that reduce costs to Medicaid and could potentially be adopted by the federal government.
This project is funded by the National Council on Disability, a federally funded organization that advises the President, Congress, and other policymakers on disability practices that enhance equal opportunities for those living with IDD.
Project Staff
- Heather Koball, PhD, Co-Director
- Suma Setty, MPH, Senior Research Associate
- Chelsea Fosse, DMD, MPH, Senior Health Policy Analyst at Health Policy Institute at the American Dental Association
Contact
Heather Koball
koball@nccp.org