Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty plans to cut $6.2 million from a program that provides dental care to the needy, he announced this week.
Faced with a decline in revenue, the state is struggling to balance its budget. The Legislature and Gov. Pawlenty could not agree on a budget before the Legislature recessed, leaving the job to Gov. Pawlenty, according to the Duluth News Tribune.
The cuts, part of a far-reaching reduction in the state's spending for healthcare, would affect the Critical Access Dental Provider Program, which funds clinics that treat low-income and rural patients, as well as those with special needs.
In a previous legislative session, the state already cut funding for oral healthcare by $18 million, or about 20% of the state's total dental spending, according to the Minnesota Dental Association.
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