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SALT LAKE CITY — A proposal that would restore dental benefits to up to 34,500 Medicaid patients — with the University of Utah School of Dentistry footing the bill — is moving forward at the Utah Legislature.
The bill, sponsored by Sen. Stephen Urquhart, R-St. George, and Rep. Paul Ray, R-Clearfield, passed the Senate and is now on its way to the House floor with the recommendation of the House Business and Labor Committee.
Under SB39, dental students would provide the services and the U.'s dental school would foot the state's portion of the bill.
Only Medicaid clients who are adults and disabled or blind would be eligible. That's about 40 to 45 percent of the Medicaid population, according to Dr. Glen Hanson, the dean of the dental school at the U.
Hanson said dental students and residents need to be exposed to that population.
"It develops compassion," he said. "There's research that says if students aren't trained to feel comfortable interacting with this population, when they get out in practice the chances they will be providing service for these folks is diminished substantially."
The program would cost about $1.4 million per year and provide services to about 34,500 Medicaid clients, according to fiscal analysts.
"You look at the cost per patient and it's a pretty good deal there," Urquhart said.
The state stopped offering dental benefits to Medicaid patients in 2009 during the recession, meaning many clients will be receiving dental care for the first time in years if the bill passes.
Hanson said he's seen the impact firsthand while treating patients in nursing homes or substance abuse facilities. Many have severe decay, abscesses or infection in their mouths that have prevented them from eating properly and getting jobs, he said.
"These people are really in desperate need to have their dental issues addressed," Hanson said. Email: dchen@deseretnews.com Twitter: DaphneChen_
