Dental Association pushes for more dentists to accept Medicaid

(WICHITA, Kan.) — The Kansas Dental Association said Monday that more dentists should be Medicaid providers. The group is marking its 140th anniversary with a new initiative. It's designed to get more dentists involved in Medicaid to help address the needs of Kansas children.

“Like anything else it's easier to correct problems when they're early and small rather than waiting till their advanced stages and more difficult for the patient and for the dentist to correct," says Dr. Hal Hale, President of the Kansas Dental Association.

Dr. Hale says the Dental Association will be working with Medicaid to improve its efficiency and reimbursement rates.

Free clinics, like this one at Wichita's Gracemed clinic in March, routinely help hundreds of children who may not be able to see a dentist otherwise.