For many years, low-income Illinoisans have struggled to find affordable dental care.
Throughout the state, dental schools, individual dentists and nonprofits have sought to address the need for routine services like cleanings. The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services even offers a dental program for low-income Illinoisans in need of dental care.
But things get much more complicated when the situation involves a child in need of a procedure that goes beyond just routine care, particularly if it requires anesthesia.
Until recently, reimbursements for dental anesthesia had been limited to dentists only. Now, however, a policy change in how Illinois’ Medicaid program does its billing will open up reimbursements to more providers, making these services more accessible for low-income Illinoisans.
Medical anesthesiologists and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) will now be eligible for reimbursement for dental anesthesia. These personnel do much of the work in certain clinics, ambulatory surgical treatment centers and hospital outpatient settings.
This change means that the services of these facilities will now be accessible to many more low-income Illinoisans without the risk of facing a large bill for anesthesia.
It comes on the heels of a dental rate increase which was part of the Medicaid omnibus bill. The legislation included a 33% rate increase for sedation evaluation, deep sedation and IV sedation services that would ultimately ensure greater access to deep sedation and IV sedation dentistry services throughout the state.
“As a registered dental hygienist and a legislator, I’ve witnessed firsthand the challenges that low-income families face in accessing quality dental care, especially when procedures sedation dentistry,” Rep. La Ha said. “This new policy change is a crucial step in improving access to these important services.”
For more information on the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services’ dental programs, please click here.