Ohio poor may lose state dental insurance

Governor Ted Strickland of Ohio, facing a $3.2 billion budget shortfall, has proposed roughly $2 billion in cuts, which would include slashing funding for health care and remove benefits for dental care for those on the state Medicaid plan, according to the Columbus Dispatch.

While the budget plan officially calls for more than 1.1 million of Ohio's poor to lose dental insurance as well as coverage for vision and other types of care, administration officials say they will continue to provide these services temporarily until the state wins a court case to free up $258 million of tobacco settlement money.

No plans were specified concerning what happens should the court case be lost.

"We implore the governor to rethink this budget framework with the House and Senate conference committee and to propose something that does not shred the safety net," said Gayle Channing Tenenbaum, chairwoman of the Campaign to Protect Ohio's Future, a coalition of health, human-services and education organizations.

The situation is similar to a number of states facing budget shortfalls which are also continuing removing dental coverage from adults on Medicaid.

State Budget Cuts Affect Working Families

PHOENIX -- While the Arizona state budget is on hold, working families said they feel like they're caught in the middle.

The KidsCare program provides almost 60,000 Arizona children with health insurance; however, advocates say the budget cuts have put the program in danger.

"We're trying to avoid getting food stamps, getting welfare," said Penny Fowlkes who teaches at Phoenix Day and is also a mother of three young children.

Fowlkes and her husband both work, but KidsCare provides the family with affordable health insurance; however, their family is one of the thousands who may no longer qualify under the proposed budget.

"I have a 4-year-old, we're constantly in the emergency room and the urgent cares," said Fowlkes.

Private insurance will cost Fowlkes’ family $600 a month.

"If your kids get hurt, it's going to be, 'Do I have the money to take them into the hospital and get them taken care of?’" said Fowlkes.

Children's Action Alliance said eligibility for the program would change from a family of four making $44,000 a year, to $33,000 a year.

The alliance estimated that $9,300 families and their children would lose health insurance.

Bernice Medina, who works for Phoenix Day and is a case worker, said she hears the families’ frustrations.

"They're angry and they're upset because they’re constantly trying to cut services for them and for their kids," said Medina.

Medina said she thinks all Arizonans may end up paying for these cuts later.

"It's going to be more costly if they take it away because then who's going to pay the bills in the hospitals to the doctors?" asked Medina.

Penny said she urges other parents and community members to write letters to legislators and the governor to stop the cuts.

“They're our future,” said Fowlkes. “They need that health insurance, their dental screening to grow up healthy.”

The alliance thinks over time 25,000 kids may no longer qualify for KidsCare.

The Communications Director for the State House of Representatives said Wednesday that the legislative budget continues providing more than $35 million in General Fund funding for the KidsCare program in the Fiscal Year 2010 budget.

'Over 2 in 5 women have been put off dentists because of cost'

According to the UK's largest supermarket bank, 45% of women have been put off going to the dentist because of the cost.

Men are three times more likely than women to extract their own tooth if they feel they can't afford the dentist, according to credit card provider Tesco Finance.

Tesco Finance is offering dental insurance from £9.95 a month to help manage the cost of dental treatment.

Jeremy Sutton, head of Tesco dental insurance, said: "Dental treatment can be expensive, in some cases costing £86 for an extraction. With cover from just £9.95 a month, Tesco Dental Insurance helps manage the cost and covers for routine NHS and private dental treatment."

Tesco Finance is also offering a credit card which could save card holders money while travelling abroad.

Is Your Dental Insurance Covering Infections?

Let's say you go to see your dentist for a wisdom teeth removal. The patient already knows that the cost is very high and think that his or her dental insurance covers the cost of wisdom teeth removal. But then because of dentist's poor performance you get a dental infection.

Indeed infections happening in dentists' offices are very common, particularly in Europe. This is why it's important to ask your insurer if your dental insurance covers not only your wisdom teeth removal, which took you to your dentist's office, but also an infection in case it happens because of poor dental hygiene. A report from France points to a low, but very significant risk of contamination of Hepatitis B or C or even AIDS when visiting a Dentist.

Can the poor dental care cause a serious viral infection? For an individual, the risk of contracting HIV, hepatitis B virus (HBV) or the hepatitis C virus (HCV) in a dentist's office is "very low", says a report from the Institut de Veille Sanitaire (IVS) that has just been made public. However, this risk is far from negligible at the population level, given the high incidence of dental defects and sterilization equipment found among dental practitioners.

In France, according to the calculations of the IVS, approximately 200 annual cases of hepatitis B infections could be due to inadequate sterilization of carrier rotary instruments widely used by dentists for conservative dental treatments and prostheses. Breaches of hygiene in this area can also theoretically lead to hepatitis C virus (less than two per year) or HIV (less than one per year). contamination.

In France, according to l'Institut de Veille Sanitaire modeling, dental care could be responsible for 200 cases of infections annually.

Therefore, they expect to increase dental continuing education in the areas of dental hygiene and general hygiene. The College of Dental Surgeons is committed to make systematic visits to the dental offices to check the situation with the dental hygiene and to track the dental infection cases in dentist's offices.

In conclusion, there is more to it when you go for a simple dental cleaning or for possibly removing a wisdom teeth. Ask you doctor if all the necessary dental hygiene precautions are in place. Also clarify who's dental insurance will cover the cost should there be an infection hi dentist's office.

Patients at free clinic open wide, and dentist and staff open their hearts

Once every three months, the employees of Arnold Peace's dental practice spend a day off together. Led by Dr. Peace, the dental team volunteers at the Catholic Charities Free Health Care Center, where free dental care is provided to those in need.

Dr. Peace found out about Catholic Charities a year ago through one of his staff members.

"My dental assistant, Mary Ann [Derbis], had read about it in her church bulletin. She said she thought we should volunteer and I told her to look into it," Dr. Peace said. "I must admit that I am your typical dentist, who likes to stay in my own environment, but they had such a desperate need for volunteers, we decided to do it. It was that easy."

Their first visit was in April 2008, according to Dr. Peace.

In addition to Dr. Peace and Ms. Derbis, Carrie Certo Kotewicz, the front office coordinator, and two dental hygienists, Jamie Graswick and Erin Odorisio, also volunteer.

"We take off Wednesdays anyway, so that was the perfect time for us to go together," he said. "We wanted to do it as a group."

The session lasts from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The group provides basic dental care for the center patients.

"Carrie helps with the coordination of the patients that we see -- then the rest of us work with the patients. I see about five or six patients each time we go in, and the girls see about the same," he said.

"I've done plenty of fillings, some restorative work. The hygienists do cleanings. We see a whole gamut of people," he said.

According to Clare Kushma, director of marketing and public relations with Catholic Charities, there is an overwhelming need for volunteer dentists at the Health Care Center, located at 212 Ninth Street in Pittsburgh.

In addition to six full-time staff, the clinic has 20 dentists who volunteer hours, including Dr. Peace. Opened in November 2007, the center provides free medical and dental care.

"It is a lot of fun for us," said Dr. Peace, "and we know we are doing good work. We usually go out to lunch afterwards; we sort of make a day of it."

Dr. Peace also belongs to the Etna-Shaler Rotary and has done some volunteer work through Rotary, although not dental care.

"I still have children at home, so I can't do work out of the country or something like that. This works out perfectly," he said.

For Dr. Peace and his staff, the volunteer work couldn't be easier. "They have wonderful equipment. We just walk in and start seeing patients," he said. "They even have their own free parking lot that volunteers can use."

It is work that Dr. Peace finds rewarding.

"When we work with the patients, my heart goes out to them. Some of them have just hit hard times and are trying to get their lives back together. It is great to help in some small way.

"When I go down there and see the huge dental need, I know we are needed. I really hope that other dentists can read this and see how easy it is to volunteer. They need more volunteers and it is a great place to help."



Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09141/971573-54.stm#ixzz0I1ANnaQ9&C

Why some people need their teeth cleaned four times a year

Why does your dentist, hygienist or periodontist recommend that you get your teeth cleaned three or four times a year?

The well-known advice: ‘’brush and floss your teeth and see your dentist twice a year‘’ actually started with a toothpaste commercial about sixty years ago. A direct result of that advice was that when employers started offering dental insurance as a benefit, the insurance companies allowed two cleanings a year. This was before the causes of periodontal (gum) disease were well known.

There have been hundreds of university studies done since then that have identified the bacteria involved in various types of periodontal disease. Sophisticated treatments have been developed, and individual risk factors have been identified. For example, smoking and diabetes greatly increase and individual’s risk of having progressive gum disease. Home care and genetics are also major factors. Conversely, having periodontal disease has been linked to heart problems, as the inflamation of the gums may cause an increase in arterial blockage.

Patients still have twice a year “prophylaxis” cleanings when they have no periodontal problems. The word “prophylaxis” by definition is a cleaning to prevent gum disease. For people who have existing periodontal pockets and bone loss, it is too late for preventive care. Deep cleanings and a three month schedule for maintenance cleanings are based on scientific evidence that these treatments are necessary to control periodontal disease. Surgical treatments may also be necessary.
Do insurance companies always pay for the treatment? Of course not.

Insurance companies pay according to the contract that an employer signs with them. Some will pay for periodontal maintenance cleanings only after scaling and root planing (deep cleaning) has been done. Other insurances may pay for prophylaxis twice a year, alternating with periodontal maintenance twice a year. You can call your insurance company for clarification, or ask your dental office to check for you. Optimal care is not always covered, but is still recommended for you to keep your teeth as long as possible.

Where to buy dental insurance plans online?

Do you want to keep your smile bright without paying too much for it? Find affordable dental insurance online. You can save hundreds of dollars on routine examination, cleanings, dental implants, root canals and other dental care services.

Dental insurance works similar to other types of medical insurance. Once you have signed up for a policy, you will need to pay premiums on a yearly or monthly basis. If you have visited the dentist, you need to fill out a claim form and provide receipts for the treatment to refund the costs.

Some types of treatments will not be covered. For example, regular checkups often require a higher level of dental insurance. So before you make a claim, ensure that your treatment is included in your policy.

Buying dental insurance on the Internet is just like buying it directly through an insurance company or over the telephone. You will be offered the same range of plans, the same coverage, the same benefits, and the same dental care.

However, when you buy dental coverage online, you will enjoy greater convenience. For example, you can shop from the privacy of your home anytime you want. And, you can easily compare dozens of plans to find the best match.

Nipped & Tucked

One of the curious aspects of the health-care crisis that accelerated in the past decade was the number of city specialists in reconstructive surgery, dermatology, and dentistry who simply stopped trying to treat illness. Alienated by the hassle and minimal compensation of insurance companies, they decided to do cosmetic work only. So you had dermatologists who never uttered the words “body check,” and ENT specialists who wouldn’t deal with people who couldn’t swallow. David Hidalgo, the former head of plastic surgery at Sloan-Kettering, who was once considered one of the best surgeons for breast reconstruction, even left the cancer institute to do aesthetic surgery full-time.


But now things have started to shift, as lifestyle medicine loses some of its allure—and paying customers. Liposuction was down 25 percent between 2007 and 2008; it’s a bellwether of ugly times ahead if certain doctors don’t adapt. “A lot of guys are suddenly opening their eyes and saying, ‘I haven’t done anything but cosmetics for years,’ ” says Fifth Avenue plastic surgeon John E. Sherman. “These guys are really panicking.” As a result, “plastic surgeons are trying to do hospital work—ulcers that aren’t healing, wounds, etc.,” says Minas Constantinides, board member of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Now “patients don’t want to pay,” which means figuring out what insurance companies will reimburse on.

“We did very little general dentistry before, but now it’s 40 percent of my practice,” says Dr. Lana Rozenberg, who created the concept of the “dental day spa” and perfected the smiles of Scarlett Johansson and Kristin Davis. “There was such an emphasis on aesthetics that people would come in wanting veneers, and they had broken teeth, but they would say, ‘We’ll take care of those later.’ Now the priorities have shifted to fixing what needs to be fixed.”

Just last year, the waiting room of Dr. David Colbert’s sleek lower–Fifth Avenue loft was filled with socialites seeking anti-aging light therapy and lip-plumping Perlane. Now he treats rashes. “Injectables on a face could run about $800 for a visit, and these medical cases aren’t usually big-ticket items,” Colbert says, shrugging. Increasingly, patients “ask which procedures insurance will pay for.”

“It’s definitely a change,” says Debra Jaliman, a Fifth Avenue dermatologist, who’s doing 25 percent more medical work this year. “I actually like it, because I get to solve interesting problems. But I hear a lot of my colleagues complaining: ‘Why am I stuck doing this stuff at this stage of my career?’ ”

There’s an upside to this, of course. Some doctors actually miss doctoring. “Ninety percent of my income was cosmetic; it was more lucrative,” says Sherman. “Eyelid surgery takes 45 minutes, and the going rate is $6,000 to $12,000.” Meanwhile, a trauma case could go five to ten hours for a fraction of that. With aesthetic surgery off, trauma has become a bigger part of his practice. “This town can no longer support 350 board-certified plastic surgeons doing only cosmetic work, not to mention all the specialties like dermatology and ENT that turned to cosmetics. The emphasis over the last decade was to forget where we started, but now the switch is on. One day the faucet is turned off, and you can say, ‘Thank God I can still do something that is rewarding.’ ”