53 - Impact of Medicaid Expansion on Preventative Dental Service Utilization

Friday, May 23, 2025

11:40 AM - 12:00 PM MDT

Has Audio

Presenting Author(s)

Saloni Patel, DMD

Pediatric Dental Resident
Rutgers School of Dental Medicine, Newark, NJ
Rutgers School of Dental Medicine
Sayreville, New Jersey, United States

Co-Author(s)

MG

MaryBeth Giacona, DDS, MPH

Rutgers School of Dental Medicine, Newark, NJ
Newark, New Jersey, United States

Program Director(s)

MM

Madhu Mohan, DMD

Rutgers Dental School
Newark, New Jersey, United States

Abstract: In New Jersey, NJ FamilyCare is the state Medicaid program for low income families. Medicaid in NJ was introduced in the 1960s and later renamed to NJFamilyCare. In the late 1990s and into the year 2000, the federal government was requested by NJ to support the Child's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). This allowed for more coverage for low income families who weren't insured under the traditional Medicaid platform. As medical and dental insurance coverage expansion programs are enacted, it is important to study its impact on the utilization of services, in specific preventative care. If seeking preventative care was limited by financial barriers, expansion of Medicaid is expected to lead to more of the population to be eligible for coverage. Increased coverage should lead to more individuals seeking and receiving care. Such a metric is the study basis of this research project and is to be measured by accessing publicly available data on CDT codes which are billed out in the state. The expansion on January 1st, 2023 to cover children under 19, regardless of their immigration status, in New Jersey for Medicaid is the focus of this study. Data from two years prior to and two years following the initiative will be examined.

Identify Supporting Agency and Grant Number: Rutgers School of Dental Medicine