Medicaid Travel of Pediatric Dental Teams

In November 2000, the Division of Public Health at the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services awarded a sole source grant to the Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC), a non-profit health corporation of southeast Alaska, to deliver dental services to Medicaid-enrolled children residing in remote locations in southeast Alaska. SEARHC contracted private pediatric dentists to travel to the communities and deliver dental services to children. A Medicaid outreach worker coordinated dental visits for local children and SEARHC staffs arranged dentist visits to the regions.

In 2004, after the completion of the grant, this project became part of a continuing care agreement between SEARHC and the Department/ State Medicaid Program.

The goal of the program was to reduce barriers to dental care and increase the use of dental care among underserved children living in remote locations in Alaska.

During the first year of program, 1,649 dental visits were provided to over 900 children enrolled in Medicaid. Within the second year, 2,162 patient visits were provided, and over 600 children received dental services.

The program served as a model for increasing the use of dental care among underserved populations and reducing Medicaid costs associated with transporting children to health services.