Journal article
Determining dental utilization rates for children: an analysis of data from the Iowa Medicaid and SCHIP programs
Journal of public health dentistry, Vol.66(2), pp.97-103
01/01/2006
DOI: 10.1111/j.1752-7325.2006.tb02563.x
PMID: 16711628
Abstract
OBJECTIVEAccessing dental care is a significant problem for children in Medicaid and SCHIP. Evaluating the extent of the access problem is affected by the differential dental utilization rates as calculated by unique approaches used by national organizations. The problem is related to the intermittent enrollment in Medicaid and SCHIP for many children during the year. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of four different approaches for calculating dental utilization rates for children in Medicaid and SCHIP programs.METHODSAll Iowa Medicaid and S-SCHIP dental claims and enrollment files for CY 2001 were used to characterize the populations, calculate dental utilization rates and evaluate the types of services received by dental utilizers. Dental utilization rates were calculated four ways using the following different rate denominators: 1) any child enrolled during the year (Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services method), 2) children enrolled for 11-12 months (National Committee for Quality Assurance method), 3) a full-time equivalents (FTE) method, 4) only newly enrolled children.RESULTSThe methodology employed greatly affected the dental utilization rates. Rates varied from 18% for newly enrolled children in Medicaid to 58% for S-SCHIP-enrolled children using the FTE method. Methods that included children who were more likely to be in for more months during the year, such as the NCQA approach, produced the highest rates.CONCLUSIONSThe method used to determine the dental utilization rates for Medicaid and SCHIP enrollees should be clearly stated when these rates are being presented. This will allow the reader to be able to make a careful and appropriate interpretation of the results.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Determining dental utilization rates for children: an analysis of data from the Iowa Medicaid and SCHIP programs
- Creators
- Peter Damiano - National Center for Public Policy ResearchElizabeth T MomanyJames J Crall
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of public health dentistry, Vol.66(2), pp.97-103
- DOI
- 10.1111/j.1752-7325.2006.tb02563.x
- PMID
- 16711628
- ISSN
- 0022-4006
- eISSN
- 1752-7325
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 01/01/2006
- Academic Unit
- Preventive and Community Dentistry; Health Management and Policy; Public Policy Center (Archive); University College Courses; Oral Health Policy Research
- Record Identifier
- 9984283714502771
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