Every year, the Augusta Regional Dental Clinic provides approximately 5,500 patients with affordable, high-quality dental care. Eighty-two percent of our patients rely on Medicaid to access cleanings, extractions and cancer screenings at the clinic.
Congress must protect Medicaid. Any cuts to the program will mean reduced reimbursements or no reimbursements at all for some services, meaning our clinic will have to lay off staff immediately while reducing our capacity to serve low-income adults and children living in Augusta County, Staunton and Waynesboro. No person should have to live in pain for lack of dental care, but that’s what cuts would mean.
Patients who can’t access our services must fall back on local urgent care facilities or emergency departments, a costly visit for both patients and the health care system. One national study found that people who go to the emergency room to treat preventable dental conditions cost taxpayers, hospitals and the government about $2 billion a year.
Oral health is an integral part of overall health. I urge Rep. Ben Cline and his colleagues to keep Medicaid intact. The health and wellbeing of our neighbors depends on it.
Sophie Parson is the executive director of the Augusta Regional Dental Clinic.
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