Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick is proposing to slash more than $50 million from the state's adult dental services program in the 2011 fiscal year as part of a plan to reduce a looming budget shortfall.
On January 27, Gov. Patrick released a $28.2 billion budget proposal for the new fiscal year that calls for $797 million in cutbacks, including $56 million from adult dental services covered by MassHealth, the state's Medicaid program. In addition, the MassHealth adult dental benefit has been restructured to cover preventive and emergency services only, excluding restorative dental services.
Massachusetts Dental Society President David Samuels, D.D.S., told Business Week that the proposed cuts to MassHealth dental care is "a step in the wrong direction."
Gov. Patrick is also proposing to raise the cost of candy and soda by eliminating the sales tax exemption on both, saying that taxing soda and candy would generate $52 million for prevention programs "to help to curb behaviors that are not healthful."
The proposal now heads to the state Legislature, where the House and Senate are expected to craft their own versions of the budget and agree on a compromise that they will send back to the governor.
The state's 2011 fiscal year begins July 1.
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