Temporal association of implementation of the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) with changes in dental ‐related emergency department visits in Maricopa County from 2006 to 2012

ConclusionWe found no evidence that cuts in dental benefits for adult Medicaid‐insured patients resulted in increased dental‐related ED visits in Maricopa County during the study period. Rather, we found evidence of a shift in payer type after the 2010 policy change where dental‐related ED visits by self‐paid patients increased as dental‐related ED visits by Medicaid‐insured patients decreased. Such payer shifts will result in high uncompensated care burdens for providers and, ultimately, governmental payers.
Source: Journal of Public Health Dentistry - Category: Dentistry Authors: Tags: Original Article Source Type: research