Evaluation of a dental society-based ABCD program in Washington state.
BACKGROUND
The authors present a two-year evaluation of a dental society-managed dental care program in Washington state. A variation of the Access to Baby and Child Dentistry, or ABDC, program, the Mom & Me program was initiated to increase access to dental care for Medicaid-enrolled children younger than age 6 years in Yakima County.


METHODS
This evaluation includes enrollment and visit data, first- and second-year cost data and results of a survey conducted with dental society members.


RESULTS
The number of dentists treating Medicaid-enrolled children on a regular basis more than doubled, from 15 to 38 general dentists. In the first two years of the program, 4,705 children were enrolled and approximately 51 percent visited a dentist.


CONCLUSIONS
The responses of dentists surveyed were positive, and the authors suggest that a dental society-managed program under the ABCD program -umbrella is a unique strategy for improving access to dental care for Medicaid clients.


CONCLUSIONS
ABCD programs provide an avenue for dentists to treat children who otherwise would not receive care.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D019140:Dental Care for Children / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D005380:Financing, Government; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008484:Medicaid; D008875:Middle Aged; D009035:Mothers; D011203:Poverty; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012953:Societies, Dental; D013221:State Health Plans; D014481:United States; D014861:Washington