Publications

Distribution of Medicaid Dental Services in California

Author(s): 

Carolyn Manuel-Barkin, Elizabeth Mertz, Kevin Grumbach

Date: 
December 1, 2000

In California, approximately 4.5 million Medicaid beneficiaries are eligible for dental services, yet fewer than half (44%) utilize these services on an annual basis. While several factors may contribute to this low use of dental services, a major deterrent is finding a dentist who will accept Medicaid. Using Medical Service Study Areas (MSSAs) as the definition of a community, this report provides a picture of private practice dentists’ participation in Medicaid across California.