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Topics
- Access to Care (6)
- Children/Adolescents (3)
- Chronic Conditions (1)
- (-) Dental and Oral Health (9)
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AHRQ Research Studies
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Research Studies is a compilation of published research articles funded by AHRQ or authored by AHRQ researchers.
Results
1 to 9 of 9 Research Studies DisplayedRoberts ET, Mellor JM, McInerny MP
Effects of a Medicaid dental coverage "cliff" on dental care access among low-income Medicare beneficiaries.
Medicare beneficiaries with income levels slightly exceeding the thresholds of eligibility for Medicaid have few affordable options for dental coverage. This gap results in a dental coverage “cliff” above these thresholds. The purpose of this study was to assess how a sudden drop-off in dental coverage from Medicaid impacts access to dental care in low-income Medicare beneficiaries. The researchers studied low-income community resident Medicare recipients whose incomes were within approximately 75 percentage points of state-specific Medicaid income eligibility thresholds. The study found that Medicare beneficiaries whose income was higher than Medicaid eligibility thresholds were 5.0 percentage points more likely to report challenges accessing dental care because of cost concerns or a lack of insurance than beneficiaries below the thresholds.
AHRQ-funded; HS026727; HS025422.
Citation: Roberts ET, Mellor JM, McInerny MP .
Effects of a Medicaid dental coverage "cliff" on dental care access among low-income Medicare beneficiaries.
Health Serv Res 2023 Jun; 58(3):589-98. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.13981..
Keywords: Dental and Oral Health, Medicaid, Medicare, Health Insurance, Access to Care
Lipton BJ, Finlayson TL
AHRQ Author: Decker SL
The association between Medicaid adult dental coverage and children's oral health.
This study examined the association of Medicaid adult dental coverage and children’s oral health as Medicaid-eligible children are more likely to experience tooth decay than children in higher-income families. Data from the 1996-2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and the 2003, 2007, and 2011-12 waves of the National Survey of Children’s Health was used. Adult dental coverage was associated with a 5-percentage-point reduction in the prevalence of untreated caries among children after Medicaid-enrolled adults had access to dental coverage for at least one year. Children under twelve years of age were the most affected.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Lipton BJ, Finlayson TL .
The association between Medicaid adult dental coverage and children's oral health.
Health Aff 2021 Nov;40(11):1731-39. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2021.01135..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Dental and Oral Health, Medicaid, Health Insurance, Access to Care
Khouja T, Burgette JM, Donohue JM
Association between Medicaid expansion, dental coverage policies for adults, and children's receipt of preventive dental services.
Researchers examined whether low-income children's use of preventive dental services is linked to variation in state Medicaid policies that affect parents' access to dental care in Medicaid. Using MEPS data along with Area Health Resources File and Medicaid adult dental coverage policies, they found no change in children's receipt of preventive dental care associated with Medicaid expansions in states that covered vs did not cover preventive dental services for adults. They concluded that factors other than parental access to dental benefits through Medicaid may be more salient determinants of preventive dental care use among low-income children.
AHRQ-funded; HS026727.
Citation: Khouja T, Burgette JM, Donohue JM .
Association between Medicaid expansion, dental coverage policies for adults, and children's receipt of preventive dental services.
Health Serv Res 2020 Oct;55(5):642-50. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.13324..
Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Children/Adolescents, Dental and Oral Health, Medicaid, Health Insurance, Low-Income, Access to Care, Policy
Meyerhoefer CD, Zuvekas SH, Farkhad BF
AHRQ Author: Zuvekas SH
The demand for preventive and restorative dental services among older adults.
This study examined the use of preventive and restorative dental services among older adults. Traditional Medicare does not have dental benefits, and older adults must either be employed, have post-retirement dental benefits or spousal coverage, or enroll in a Medicare Advantage program that includes dental coverage. The authors used 2007-2015 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey and supplemental data on dental care prices to estimate the demand for dental care. Dental service was not sensitive to out-of-pocket prices. Older adults with private dental insurance increased preventive service by 25%, and dental coverage through Medicaid increased basic and major service use by 23% and 36%. Women used dental insurance more than men.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Meyerhoefer CD, Zuvekas SH, Farkhad BF .
The demand for preventive and restorative dental services among older adults.
Health Econ 2019 Sep;28(9):1151-58. doi: 10.1002/hec.3921..
Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Elderly, Dental and Oral Health, Medicare, Health Insurance, Access to Care
Horner-Johnson W, Dobbertin K
Dental insurance and dental care among working-age adults: differences by type and complexity of disability.
The purpose of this study was to examine differences in dental insurance, receipt of dental checkups, and delayed and unmet needs for dental care by type and complexity of disability. It found that all disability types except hearing had significantly higher adjusted odds of being without dental insurance, as did people with complex activity limitations. Further, disparities in care were apparent even when controlling for presence of dental insurance.
AHRQ-funded; HS022981.
Citation: Horner-Johnson W, Dobbertin K .
Dental insurance and dental care among working-age adults: differences by type and complexity of disability.
J Public Health Dent 2016 Sep;76(4):330-39. doi: 10.1111/jphd.12160.
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Keywords: Access to Care, Dental and Oral Health, Disabilities, Health Insurance, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS)
Berdahl T, Hudson J, Simpson L
AHRQ Author: Berdahl T, Hudson J
Annual report on children's health care: dental and orthodontic utilization and expenditures for children, 2010-2012.
The researchers examined general dental and orthodontic utilization and expenditures by health insurance status, public health insurance eligibility, and sociodemographic characteristics among children aged 0 to 17 years using data from 2010-2012. Overall, 41.9 percent of US children reported an annual dental office-based visit for general (nonorthodontic) dental care.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Berdahl T, Hudson J, Simpson L .
Annual report on children's health care: dental and orthodontic utilization and expenditures for children, 2010-2012.
Acad Pediatr 2016 May-Jun;16(4):314-26. doi: 10.1016/j.acap.2016.02.013.
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Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Children/Adolescents, Dental and Oral Health, Healthcare Costs, Health Insurance
Decker SL, Lipton BJ
AHRQ Author: Decker SL
Do Medicaid benefit expansions have teeth? The effect of Medicaid adult dental coverage on the use of dental services and oral health.
This article examines the effect of Medicaid adult dental coverage on use of dental care and dental health outcomes using state-level variation in dental coverage during 2000-2012. Its findings imply that dental coverage is associated with an increase in the likelihood of a recent dental visit, with the size of the effect increasing with Medicaid payment rates to dentists, and a reduction in the likelihood of untreated dental caries.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Decker SL, Lipton BJ .
Do Medicaid benefit expansions have teeth? The effect of Medicaid adult dental coverage on the use of dental services and oral health.
J Health Econ 2015 Dec;44:212-25. doi: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2015.08.009.
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Keywords: Access to Care, Dental and Oral Health, Health Insurance, Healthcare Utilization, Medicaid, Outcomes
Manski RJ, Moeller JF, Chen H
AHRQ Author: Manski RJ
Dental use and expenditures for older uninsured Americans: the simulated impact of expanded coverage.
The purpose of this paper is to empirically determine if insurance alone would close the current gaps in dental use and expenditures between insured and uninsured older Americans. Comparing simulated dental use and expenditures rates of newly insured persons against the corresponding rates for those previously insured, the authors found that it would close previous gaps in use and expense.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Manski RJ, Moeller JF, Chen H .
Dental use and expenditures for older uninsured Americans: the simulated impact of expanded coverage.
Health Serv Res. 2015 Feb;50(1):117-35. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.12205..
Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Dental and Oral Health, Health Insurance, Elderly, Healthcare Costs
Meyerhoefer CD, Zuvekas SH, Manski R
AHRQ Author: Zuvekas SH, Manski R
The demand for preventive and restorative dental services.
The authors sought to examine the extent to which limited dental coverage and high out-of-pocket costs reduce dental service use by the nonelderly privately insured and uninsured. They concluded that dental coverage is an important determinant of preventive dental service use, but other nonprice factors related to consumer preferences, especially education, are equal if not stronger determinants.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Meyerhoefer CD, Zuvekas SH, Manski R .
The demand for preventive and restorative dental services.
Health Econ 2014 Jan;23(1):14-32. doi: 10.1002/hec.2899.
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Keywords: Chronic Conditions, Dental and Oral Health, Health Insurance, Health Services Research (HSR), Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS)