Dentist participation in a public-private partnership to increase Medicaid participation and access for children from low income families.
The purpose of this research is to solicit feedback from dental society members involved in a program (Access to Baby and Child Dentistry, ABCD) to provide care for children receiving Medicaid benefits, and to gain an understanding of dentist participation. We investigated whether general dentists who were participants in ABCD were more fully integrated into the dental society profession and community, and whether they demonstrated greater interest in children. Dentists were stratified regarding ABCD participation and randomly selected to be interviewed (N = 40). The majority thought it appropriate for general dentists to care for very young children. Participants found fewer problems in fee levels in Medicaid, but there was no difference in an index of fees between the groups. Participants were no more active in the dental society, and few differences existed between the groups regarding other aspects of personal or professional life. Dentists participating in ABCD to improve access had a good experience and have positive views of the program. This may encourage other nonspecialist colleagues to participate in programs for children.
McNabb
K
K
Department of Dental Public Health Sciences and Director, Dental Fears Research Clinic, University of Washington, Seattle, USA.
Milgrom
P
P
Grembowski
D
D
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D019140:Dental Care for Children; D003812:Dentist-Patient Relations; D003815:Dentists; D005246:Feedback; D005250:Fees, Dental; D005792:General Practice, Dental / Q000458:organization & administration; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008484:Medicaid; D011203:Poverty; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012953:Societies, Dental; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires