Basic care for the poor
Failing to fund these services is a financial loser for the state. People who cannot afford visits to the dentist sometimes end up in emergency rooms for treatment of dental abscesses that become infected. According to the Utah Department of Health, the state of Utah spent nearly $69,000 for dental care rendered in emergency rooms in 2005. Meanwhile the federal government's share was nearly $230,000. These emergency room costs have steadily escalated since 2003, the first year adult Medicaid recipients went without dental benefits.
Some may argue that many private insurance plans have bare-bones dental coverage, if any, and no vision coverage, but most people with private insurance have the capacity to pay for those services out of pocket. Most Medicaid recipients are so poor that it is impossible for them to pay out of pocket for either dental or vision care.
Vision care needs to be part of the Medicaid package because its absence also becomes a financial loser for the state. A lack of vision care limits employment opportunities for low-income adults. They need good or corrected vision to work in most segments of the Utah economy. Without the ability to work, they cannot become economically self-sufficient.
While much of this discussion has been about money, these issues obviously affect the quality of life of the Medicaid recipients. These services may technically be considered "optional," but ask yourself how effective most people could be on the job or in their personal relationships if they were nagged by poor oral health or were unable to see.
At a time when the state has the resources to fund these services, it should. Not only because it makes financial sense but because it's the moral thing to do. Huntsman should ask the Legislature to consider this appropriation during the special session.
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