Even with reduced financial barriers under the Affordable Care Act, children in low-income groups still face disparities in oral health access. A recent Oregon-based study assessed the impact of Willamette Dental Group’s ( WDG ) unique care model on Medicaid-enrolled children (0–18 years ). Using matched longitudinal data (2014–2021), the study found that children in WDG’s program were 40% more likely to have any dental visit and 48% more likely to have an examination visit compared with non-WDG Medicaid peers. These findings highlight that addressing non-financial barriers—through system-level innovations in scheduling, preventive care, and continuity —can meaningfully improve access for underserved children.
To read more; Click here Are innovative delivery models the key to closing pediatric dental gaps? ##Reference## Chi DL, Hudson K, Saedi A, Lind KE, Milgrom P. Improving children’s…
