{"id":4102,"date":"2023-07-06T21:30:00","date_gmt":"2023-07-06T21:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wifamily.news\/?p=4102"},"modified":"2023-07-06T23:24:09","modified_gmt":"2023-07-06T23:24:09","slug":"wisconsin-budget-misses-mark-on-best-oral-care-solution-dental-therapy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wifamily.news\/?p=4102","title":{"rendered":"Wisconsin budget misses mark on best oral care solution \u2014 dental therapy"},"content":{"rendered":"

This post originally appeared at https:\/\/www.badgerinstitute.org\/wisconsin-budget-misses-mark-on-dental-therapy\/<\/a><\/p>\n

The 2023-25 state biennial\u202fbudget\u202fsigned by Gov. Tony Evers on Wednesday included measures designed to address gaps in oral care access in Wisconsin, which has among the worst records for disadvantaged and underserved populations in the country, according to Badger Institute research<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

A bipartisan measure to allow dental therapy in Wisconsin was not included in the budget, however. A bill that would allow the\u00a0mid-level providers to perform preventive and restorative procedures is expected to be introduced in the fall.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Sen. Mary Felzkowski (R-Irma), who authored dental therapy bills in previous legislative sessions, says she will do so again when the Legislature reconvenes in September. It will be a standalone bill that will go through the public hearing process and allow legislators to receive feedback from constituents and stakeholders, she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cA staggering 64 of the 72 counties in Wisconsin face dental access shortages,\u201d said Felzkowski, a member of the Senate Committee on Health.\u202fShe added that more than 1 million Wisconsinites who depend on Medicaid for dental benefits face additional barriers to oral care access.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

Nearly two-thirds of Wisconsin dentists, around 62%, do not accept Medicaid or Children\u2019s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) patients as of 2019.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cAdding a dental therapist to the dental team can help dental practices see more Medicaid patients, and more patients overall,\u201d she said.\u00a0\u201cDentists in other states who have embraced the concept and employed dental therapists report increased dental team productivity, increased profits, personnel cost savings and improved patient satisfaction.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Neighboring Minnesota and Michigan are among eight states that have authorized dental therapist programs statewide.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

In his budget statement, Evers touted a handful of measures that would strengthen \u201cthe state\u2019s health care workforce pipeline in the areas of dentistry and oral hygiene\u201d and \u201cimprove access to dental care for our kids.\u201d He cited four funding streams that will:\u00a0<\/p>\n