Impact of the Iowa S-SCHIP program on access to dental care for adolescents.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined whether providing insurance through Iowa's State Children's Health Insurance Program, S-SCHIP, had an impact on dental care access for adolescents that was similar to children of other age groups.


METHODS
Using a pretest, post-test panel study design, an 80-item questionnaire was mailed to the parents of one S-SCHIP enrollee per household at enrollment. A similar instrument was mailed after 1 year. A mixed-mode data collection process was used. Children were compared by age groups (1 to 6, 7 to 12, and 13 to 18). Statistical tests evaluated differences in: (1) demographics between age groups at baseline; (2) outcomes at follow-up; and (3) differences between matched-pair responses prepost.


RESULTS
Baseline and follow-up responses were received from 39% of sampled children (N = 1,399). After 1 year, access to and utilization of dental services improved for all age groups. Adolescents, however, were least likely to have had an annual dental visit; 1 in 6 still had unmet dental need or delays. Relative to other health services, dental care was reported to be the highest area of unmet need at both baseline and follow-up, especially for adolescents.


CONCLUSIONS
Iowa's S-SCHIP program was found to improve dental care access for children of all ages. Nonfinancial barriers, however, still exist for a significant number of adolescents.
McBroome
Kimberly
K
Department of Pediatric Dentistry, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA. kimmcbroome@hotmail.com
Damiano
Peter C
PC
Willard
Jean C
JC
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019140:Dental Care for Children / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003753:Dental Health Surveys; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007347:Insurance, Dental / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D007484:Iowa; D008297:Male; D008484:Medicaid; D013221:State Health Plans; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States