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144 - Medicaid Fee Increases Impact Pediatric Dental Care in Ohio

Friday, May 22, 2026
2:40 PM - 2:55 PM PST
Has Audio

    Presenting Author(s)

  • Lexi Dunnells, DDS, MPH (she/her/hers)

    Pediatric Dentistry Resident
    The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
    The Ohio State University
    Columbus, Ohio, United States

    • Co-Author(s)

  • Kimberly J. Hammersmith, DDS, MPH, MS

    Associate Professor
    The Ohio State University/ Nationwide Children's Hospital
    The Ohio State University and Nationwide Children's Hospital
    Columbus, Ohio, United States

  • Homa R. Amini, DDS, MPH, MS

    Program Director
    The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
    Columbus, Ohio, United States

  • JP

    Jin R. Peng, MD, MS. PhD

    The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital

  • Frederick C. Howard, PhD

    Postdoctoral Scholar
    The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
    The Ohio State University

  • Beau D. Meyer, DDS, MPH

    Associate Professor
    The Ohio State University
    The Ohio State University College of Dentistry
    Columbus, Ohio, United States

    • Research Mentor(s)

  • Beau D. Meyer, DDS, MPH

    Associate Professor
    The Ohio State University
    The Ohio State University College of Dentistry
    Columbus, Ohio, United States

    • Program Director(s)

  • Kimberly J. Hammersmith, DDS, MPH, MS

    Associate Professor
    The Ohio State University/ Nationwide Children's Hospital
    The Ohio State University and Nationwide Children's Hospital
    Columbus, Ohio, United States

Abstract:


Purpose: To evaluate the impact of the January 1, 2024 Ohio Medicaid dental fee increases on pediatric dental utilization and provider participation. Qualitative analysis explored dentists’ motivations to treat Medicaid-enrolled children.



Methods: A mixed-methods, parallel convergent design was used. Quantitative analyses applied interrupted time series models to Partners For Kids Medicaid dental claims from 2022–2025. Monthly outcomes included: claims volume, dentist participation (number of dentists filing claims), and number of unique children treated per dentist. Semi-structured interviews with Ohio dentists participating in Medicaid were analyzed using thematic analysis.



Results: Monthly claims ranged from 20,321 to 28,154 children. Claims volume decreased in the immediate post-intervention month by 4% (P=.02); however, over the post-intervention period, claims volume increased by about 1% per month relative to pre-intervention period (P=.03). Similarly, dentist participation was not different immediately post-intervention (- < 1%, P=.36), but increased steadily over time (2% per month; P < .001). The number of children per dentist declined in the immediate post-intervention month (1.7 fewer children per dentist, P=.04) and continued to decline compared to the pre-intervention period (0.43 children per dentist per month, P=.001). Dentists viewed the fee increase positively and as an important signal of policy support; however, administrative barriers remained dominant concerns. Many dentists were motivated by a professional commitment to underserved children rather than reimbursement alone.



Conclusions: The fee increases improved provider participation and financial viability but may not be sufficient alone to expand access to new patients. Meaningful expansion of access for children will likely require broader system-level changes.

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