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[MM Curator Summary]: The new rates will add $22 million in annual Medicaid costs.
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LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A new Arkansas law will require the Arkansas Medicaid Program to increase reimbursement rates for certain dental services.
The law looks to ensure that the underserved have the care they need and that dental providers continue accepting Medicaid by raising Medicaid reimbursement rates.
Terry Fiddler, the executive director of Arkansas Mission of Mercy, said his organization provides free dental clinics, most recently seeing hundreds of patients who need dental care.
“The underserved individuals of Arkansas, the generational poverty,” Fiddler said. “With you and I, if we have a toothache, we go to the dentist and get taken care of. That’s not always possible for them.”
This law is tailored to boost reimbursement rates for oral surgeries, children and adults with special needs.
Fiddler said it’s been 18 years since a rate increase, leading to some dentists dropping Medicaid, but he hopes that it flips with this law.
“What’s going to happen, those providers who have dropped out of services, this will be an impetus for them to come back,” Fiddler said. “For those who have continued to do so but were on that ledge of dropping off, we’re hoping that all of these things will provide more to providers.”
A representative from the Division of Medical Services testified against the law earlier this month due to the fiscal impact. They said they’re not opposed to continuing to work with dentists to do targeted rate increases, but feel this law takes this out of their normal process.
They said this has a fiscal impact of about $7 million to the state share, with impact to the overall Medicaid budget being over $22 million.
“That’s a lot of money that we asked for, but they gave it to us, and I will promise you every penny will be well spent for the underserved of Arkansas,” Fiddler said.
Fiddler said on behalf of the underserved in Arkansas and the Arkansas State Dental Association, they thank Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders for signing this law.