CMS: Dental Medicaid payments in Utah too low

The U.S. Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is questioning the amount of reimbursement that Utah pays dentists who see Medicaid patients, because the rates are too low to guarantee pregnant women and children's access to services, according to a story in the Salt Lake Tribune.

The state legislature last session took back a one-time 24% jump in Medicaid reimbursement that dentists received in 2008, on top of rolling back their 4.5% cost of living raise, the Tribune reported.

And although Gov. Gary Herbert has recommended restoring the funding for fiscal year 2011, CMS has rejected the state's Plan Amendment, which it is required to file when it changes its reimbursement to providers, according to the story.

Whether the previous rate will be fully restored isn't clear, the Tribune said, adding that CMS now wants the state to negotiate with dentists for a reasonable fee.