title: The Impact of Medicaid Reform on Children's Dental Care Utilization in Connecticut, Maryland, and Texas.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To measure the impact of Medicaid reforms, in particular increases in Medicaid dental fees in Connecticut, Maryland, and Texas, on access to dental care among Medicaid-eligible children.
  
  
  METHODS
  2007 and 2011-2012 National Survey of Children's Health.
  
  
  METHODS
  Difference-in-differences and triple differences models were used to measure the impact of reforms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Relative to Medicaid-ineligible children and all children from a group of control states, preventive dental care utilization increased among Medicaid-eligible children in Connecticut and Texas. Unmet dental need declined among Medicaid-eligible children in Texas.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increasing Medicaid dental fees closer to private insurance fee levels has a significant impact on dental care utilization and unmet dental need among Medicaid-eligible children.
authors.affiliation: Health Policy Institute, American Dental Association, Chicago, IL.
authors.forename: Kamyar
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nasseh
authors.affiliation: Health Policy Institute, American Dental Association, Chicago, IL.
authors.forename: Marko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vujicic
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019140:Dental Care for Children / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007349:Insurance, Health, Reimbursement / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008484:Medicaid / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States
keywords: Dental care utilization; Medicaid dental fees; Medicaid reform