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Poor oral health as an obstacle to employment for Medicaid beneficiaries with disabilities
Hall, Jean P. Kurth, Noelle K. Chapman, Shawna L. C.
Hall, Jean P.
Kurth, Noelle K.
Chapman, Shawna L. C.
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Abstract
Objectives: To inform policy with better information about the oral health-care
needs of aMedicaid population that engages in employment, that is, people ages 16
to 64 with Social Security-determined disabilities enrolled in a Medicaid Buy-In
program.
Methods: Statistically test for significant differences among responses to aMedicaid
Buy-In program satisfaction survey that included oral health questions from the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance
System and the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP) to results for the state’s general
population and the US general population.
Results: All measures of dental care access and oral health were significantly worse
for the study population as comparedwith a state general population or aUS general
population. Differences were particularly pronounced for the OHIP measure for
difficulty doing one’s job due to dental problems, which was almost five times higher
for the study population.
Conclusions: More comprehensive dental benefits for the study population could
result in increased oral and overall health, and eventual cost savings to Medicaid as
more people work, have improved health, and pay premiums for coverage.
Description
Date
2012
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
American Association of Public Health Dentistry