title: Expanding public coverage for dental services: pathway to improvements or hollow promise?
abstract: Growth in public sector dental benefits following passage of the are Affordable Care Act extends a national trend of expanding publicly funded benefits program. This paper contrasts the performance of California's Medicaid dental program with progress in other states, outlines major reasons for performance gaps, raises concerns about recent policymakers' decisions and questions whether expanding coverage without addressing long-standing shortcomings represents a step forward or a catalyst deterioration and untoward consequences for millions.
authors.forename: James J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Crall
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002140:California; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D054626:Consumer Health Information; D019140:Dental Care for Children / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003752:Dental Health Services / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007342:Insurance Benefits; D019458:Insurance Coverage; D008484:Medicaid; D058991:Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; D011050:Policy Making; D017150:Public Sector; D055818:Public-Private Sector Partnerships; D012051:Reimbursement Mechanisms; D014481:United States; D035862:Vulnerable Populations; D055815:Young Adult