Charges for oral health care during a period of economic growth in the US: 1987-96

This study aimed to provide estimates of amounts charged for dental care during 1996 for the US adult population and its major sociodemographic subgroups, and to evaluate whether charges had increased since 1987. Methods: We used data from the 1996 Medical Expenditures Panel Survey and report results for 12,931 adults aged 19-64 years. For comparison with previously published charges, we converted 1987 charges to their 1996 "constant dollar" value to control for inflation. Data were analyzed using SUDAAN and the results can be generalized to the US adult population. Results: In 1996, 43.) percent (95% CI=42.7%, 44.6%) of the US population incurred dental cart charges, which did not differ significantly from the 1987 estimate of 44.5 percent In 1996, mean per capita charge for dental care was $182 (95$171, $192) which did not differ significantly from the inflation-adjusted 1987 estimate of$174 The average charge per patient who incurred charges in 1996 was $416 (95/, CI=$394, $438), which was only 7 percent greater than the inflation-adjusted 1987 estimate of$389 (P=.08). Sociodemographic variations were observed in per capita charges, but were less apparent in mean charge per patient who incurred charges. Conclusions: During a period when economic growth and other market forces were expected to increase delivery of dental services, there was little or no change in percentage of US adults incurring charges or in mean per capita charges. The booming US economy did not raise dental charges significantly and did not increase utilization of dental care services.Amit Chattopadhyay; Gary D. Slade; Daniel A. Shugar

Comparison of Medicaid and Non-Medicaid Dental Providers

A statewide mail survey of a stratified sample of 640 Michigan general dentists was conducted in 1983, with a response rate of 41 percent, n = 261. An analysis was performed to compare Medicaid and non-Medicaid providers. About half of all respondents reported that they were not seeing any Medicaid patients (Group 1); 29 percent reported that less than 10 percent of their patients were Medicaid-eligible (Group 2), and 22 percent reported that 10 percent or more of their patients were Medicaid-eligible (Group 3). Significant differences existed among the three groups for age of respondent, length of time in practice, and number of new patients seen each month. Respondents with greater percentages of Medicaid patients in their practices were more likely to be in group practice. Stratification of respondents by location suggested that rural providers were more likely than urban respondents to have some Medicaid patients in their practices. Over 40 percent of respondents from all groups reported themselves as being not busy enough. In 1984, more than one million persons in Michigan were eligible for Medicaid dental benefits, but only one-fourth of these individuals were recipients of dental care. Factors that may limit dentists' participation in the Medicaid program, despite the presence of a large eligible population and self-reported lack of busyness, are discussed.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/65325/1/j.1752-7325.1986.tb03143.x.pd