Error slashes Utah Medicaid reimbursement

A clerical error has cut Medicaid reimbursements for dental services in Utah by 30%, according to a story in the Salt Lake Tribune.

As a result, more and more dentists are refusing Medicaid patients, the newspaper reported.

The problem started in the last legislative session when lawmakers tried to close a deficit by rolling back dental care providers' 4.5% cost of living increase to 2007 levels, according to the story. The legislators intended to exclude from that reduction a one-time 30% hike dental care workers received in 2008 to bring them up to a break-even level, Sen. Allen Christensen (R-Ogden), D.D.S., told the Tribune .

The lawmakers didn't spot the error because the bill on which they signed off didn't refer to a 30% cut, it simply stated the budget figures in dollars, Dr. Christensen said.

"It's a mess," he said. "We're trying to get it corrected. But it's tough times to find some dollars."

Since the reduction took effect in May, 24 dentists have withdrawn from Medicaid, according to Anita Hall, health program manager for the Utah Department of Health's Bureau of Coverage and Reimbursement Policy.

Earlier, the newspaper reported that Utah dental clinics are struggling to accommodate indigent patients since the state cut Medicaid dental benefits for adults starting July 1.

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