La Crosse County Part of Proposal to Increase State Reimbursements for Dentists
By Terry Rindfleisch, La Crosse Tribune, Wis.
Jun. 9–Medical reimbursement for La Crosse County dentists could substantially improve under a program that was recommended Friday by the Wisconsin Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee.
State Rep. Jennifer Shilling, D-La Crosse, said members of the La Crosse Area Dental Care Advocacy Coalition pushed hard to make sure La Crosse County was part of a two-year pilot project that would increase state reimbursement for dentists from 40 percent of the usual fee to 75 percent.
“We’re pleased with the recommendation, which has bipartisan support, so we hope we can get this through the Assembly and Senate,” Shilling said.
If approved, the pilot project also would include Brown and Racine counties and would apply to children under age 18, she said.
It’s been extremely difficult, Shilling said, for low-income children to get dental care in the La Crosse area, even if they qualify for state Medical Assistance. Dentists say they can’t afford to take many Medical Assistance cases because they need to pay for support staff, rent and other expenses.
State Sen. Dale Kapanke, R-La Crosse, said the La Crosse coalition has raised awareness about the lack of dental care for low-income people across the state.
The coalition, which includes dentists, has been working with Kapanke, Shilling and State Rep. Lee Nerison, R-Viroqua, to increase reimbursement for dentists to treat low-income people.
Terry Rindfleisch can be reached at trindfleisch@lacrossetribune.com or (608) 791-8227.
—–
To see more of the La Crosse Tribune or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.lacrossetribune.com/.
Copyright (c) 2007, La Crosse Tribune, Wis.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.