Increased children's access to fluoride varnish treatment by involving medical care providers: effect of a Medicaid policy change.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In 2004, the State of Wisconsin introduced a change to their Medicaid Policy allowing medical care providers to be reimbursed for fluoride varnish treatment provided to Medicaid enrolled children.

Objective

To determine the extent by which a state-level policy change impacted access to fluoride varnish treatment (FVT) for Medicaid enrolled children.

Data source

The Electronic Data Systems of Medicaid Evaluation and Decision Support database for Wisconsin from 2002 to 2006.

Study design

We analyzed Wisconsin Medicaid claims for FVT for children between the ages of 1 and 6 years, comparing rates in the prepolicy period (2002-2003) to the period (2004-2006) following the policy change.

Principal findings

Medicaid claims for FVT in 2002-2003 total

SUBMITTER: Okunseri C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2739021 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature