title: The effect of Medicaid primary care provider reimbursement on access to early childhood caries preventive services.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine receipt of early childhood caries preventive services (ECCPS) in two states' Medicaid programs before and after the implementation of reimbursement to medical primary care providers (M-PCPs).
  
  
  METHODS
  Enrollment and claims data from the Florida and Texas Medicaid programs for children ≤54 months of age during the period 2006-2010.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted time trend-adjusted, difference-in-differences analyses by using modified Poisson regressions combined with generalized estimating equations (GEEs) to analyze the effect of M-PCP reimbursement on the likelihood that an enrollee had an ECCPS visit after controlling for age, sex, health status, race/ethnicity, geographic location, and enrollment duration.
  
  
  METHODS
  Enrollment data were linked to claims data to create a panel dataset with child-month observations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Reimbursement to M-PCPs was associated with an increased likelihood of ECCPS receipt in general and topical fluoride application specifically in both states.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Reimbursement to M-PCPs can increase access to ECCPS. However, ECCPS receipt continues to fall short of recommended care, presenting opportunities for performance improvement.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Outcomes and Policy, College of Medicine, Institute for Child Health Policy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL.
authors.forename: Jill Boylston
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Herndon
authors.forename: Scott L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Tomar
authors.forename: Frank A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Catalanotto
authors.forename: W Bruce
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Vogel
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Shenkman
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D003729:Dental Care / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007349:Insurance, Health, Reimbursement; D008297:Male; D008484:Medicaid / Q000191:economics*; D016012:Poisson Distribution; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013781:Texas; D014481:United States
keywords: Medicaid; early childhood caries; preventive services; reimbursement