To examine the association between state Medicaid dental benefits and access to dental care during pregnancy among adult Medicaid-enrolled women, particularly focusing on racial and ethnic disparities in access.
Approach:
Key Findings:
Only 28% of Medicaid-enrolled pregnant women received a dental cleaning during pregnancy compared to 46% in the general population, highlighting a significant gap.
States offering Medicaid dental coverage had higher rates of dental cleaning during pregnancy, suggesting a direct link between policy and access.
Racial and ethnic disparities exist, with lower rates of dental cleanings among non-White women, particularly Black and Asian and Pacific Islander women, indicating a need for targeted interventions.
Interpretation:
The study highlights significant disparities in access to dental care during pregnancy among Medicaid-enrolled women, influenced by state Medicaid dental benefits and racial/ethnic factors, underscoring the urgent need for policy reforms to ensure equitable access.
Limitations:
Variation in state Medicaid policies may affect generalizability.
Data limited to self-reported measures may introduce bias.
Potential confounding factors, such as socioeconomic status and geographic location, may not have been fully controlled for.
Conclusion:
The findings underscore the need for equitable access to dental care during pregnancy across different racial and ethnic groups.
As more states expand adult Medicaid dental benefits, participation remains low and GOP-backed federal cuts threaten to reverse recent progress, raising concerns for physicians and dentists.
