The Impact of Medicaid Reform on Children’s Dental Care Utilization in Connecticut, Maryland, and Texas

OBJECTIVE: To measure the impact of Medicaid reforms, in particular increases in Medicaid dental fees in Connecticut, Maryland, and Texas, on access to dental care among Medicaid-eligible children. DATA: 2007 and 2011–2012 National Survey of Children’s Health. STUDY DESIGN: Difference-in-differences and triple differences models were used to measure the impact of reforms. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Relative to Medicaid-ineligible children and all children from a group of control states, preventive dental care utilization increased among Medicaid-eligible children in Connecticut and Texas. Unmet dental need declined among Medicaid-eligible children in Texas. CONCLUSIONS: Increasing Medicaid dental fees closer to private insurance fee levels has a significant impact on dental care utilization and unmet dental need among Medicaid-eligible children.