AUGUSTA - On Wednesday, the Legislature’s Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee voted to fund a bill from House Speaker Ryan Fecteau of Biddeford. The bill shifts Maine’s reliance on emergency-only dental coverage to a preventative dental care model to improve health outcomes and save the state money over time. LD 996, An Act To Improve Dental Health Access for Maine Children and Adults with Low Incomes received support from public health experts and economists as a smart investment. Today, it received a 10-0 vote from the committee.
Maine is one of only ten states that provides emergency-only dental treatment through Medicaid, but that could soon change. By covering preventative dental care rather than emergency-only care, Maine would save up to $17 million in avoidable emergency room care annually. Low-income Mainers who could previously access dental care through Medicaid only in emergency situations, likely when facing infections or serious pain, would be able to avoid dire and costly health issues. With this change, Maine will also be eligible for federal matching funds.
“This is a critical change to how Mainers access dental care. Maine’s system had forced vulnerable people to use the emergency room when their teeth could not be salvaged, which cost Maine people their dignity and health. Ultimately, it has also cost our state economically, and that’s about to change,” said Speaker Ryan Fecteau of Biddeford, the lead sponsor of the bill.
“Access to high quality, compassionate and comprehensive oral health care is critical to one’s overall health. I see its importance and its systematic impacts on Mainers every day in my work at Lincoln County Dental,” said Representative Holly Stover of Boothbay. “I am proud to co-sponsor this bill, as it will have a direct impact on my community and communities across the state.”
"Dental care is health care. Including dental services under MaineCare will improve the health and quality of life outcomes for low income Mainers across the state," said Representative Laura Supica of Bangor, a co-sponsor of the bill. "I know from personal experience that when money is tight and you're struggling to afford basic expenses like rent, heating or food, going to the dentist just isn't a priority. This will help so many Maine people.”
“This year I broke a molar, a significant issue for anybody but this was my last molar on my lower jaw. A long period of pain, anticipation and dread, and worsening mental health ended with my major chewing surface broken, a new (heart-breakingly familiar) period of anxiety began. Last month, I had that broken molar removed, the 12th extraction I’ve had performed in my adult life. The only reason I could afford that was a GoFundMe because my insurance at work hadn’t started yet and would only cover a small portion in any case. Dental care is expensive and most of the jobs I’ve had over the last decade didn’t include comprehensive dental care. Policies that restrict access to dental care meant that I had to learn to live with pain, I had to choose to wait and throw a tooth away because to fix it meant I couldn’t have a car or a place to stay. The feeling I was left with was, because of how much money I had, I didn’t deserve to have functioning teeth,” said Joshua Kauppila of Bangor.
“Oral disease does not discriminate based on age, race, sexuality, or socioeconomic strata. Every one of us is at risk of oral disease, but those who have the least are at highest risk,” said Dr. Wendy Alpaugh, a dentist from Stonington. “Barriers to dental care are formidable for those without the means to be seen by a dental professional. Leveling the playing field is a win for society.”
"Making sure that parents can access comprehensive dental care is essential to helping kids get the care they need. It's time to recognize that oral health is health, and oral health care is not a luxury item but is something that all families in Maine deserve," said Becca Matusovich, Executive Director of Partnership for Children’s Oral Health.
“This bill is a game changer for oral health equity. Oral health is essential to overall health and well-being and access to care should be available to all Mainers.”said Bryan Wyatt of Maine Primary Care Association.
In 2012, the MaineCare Redesign Task Force convened by then-Commissioner Mayhew concluded that MaineCare provided $17 million in emergency room care that could have been avoided if patients had received preventative dental treatment in the community. A recent study showed the economic impact of LD 996 will be $21.6 million, with nearly 50% of the impact in rural areas. With passage of LD 996, expanded coverage would go into effect on April 1, 2022.
The budget faces additional votes in the Legislature in the coming weeks.
Jenna Howard (Fecteau), 214-3185,