Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon signed a bill this week that could make it easier for Missouri dentists to treat Medicaid patients.
Presently, of the state's 114 counties, 54 use the Missouri HealthNet managed care program to provide care to Medicaid patients, according to a story in the Kansas City Business Journal. The remaining counties participate in a fee-for-service model. This has impacted the number of dentists who opt to treat Medicaid patients by creating "cumbersome" billing requirements, according to the Missouri Dental Association.
Currently, only about 400 dentists out of approximately 3,000 in Missouri treat Medicaid patients, the association noted.
Among other things, SB 127 allows the state to implement a statewide dental delivery system designed to improve recipient participation and access to providers of dental services under the HealthNet Medicaid program.
