Institutional barriers to providing oral health services for underserved populations in New York City.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to explore institutional barriers to the provision of oral health services for the underserved among inner-city health centers.


METHODS
Mail-based survey of Medicaid-approved health centers in New York City without oral health services. The importance of four barrier categories was rated: resource issues, dental provider difficulties, referral problems, and low priority of dental care.


RESULTS
36 health centers completed the survey. The most important barriers were resource issues (66.7% agreed), dental provider difficulties (29.4%), referral problems (24.2%), and low priority (15.2%). Top individual barriers were lack of start-up funds (88%), lack of physical space (74%), lack of available funding sources (71%), and low reimbursement rates for dental services (69%). Most centers (78%) identified a need for dental services for their patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Access to oral health care remains a large problem for the underserved. Institutional barriers will need to be addressed to close the gap.
Ramos-Rodríguez
Cálix
C
Callen-Lorde Community Health Center/Lutheran Medical Center, 356 West 18th Street, New York, NY 10011, USA. calixramos@hotmail.com
Schwartz
Mark D
MD
Rogers
Vincent
V
Alos
Victor
V
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003752:Dental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003815:Dentists / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005376:Financial Management / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006268:Health Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006292:Health Priorities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006295:Health Resources / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009519:New York City; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012051:Reimbursement Mechanisms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019037:Urban Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data