Tools for Policymakers

HPI now provides state-by-state dentist demographic data, including breakdowns by age, race/ethnicity, Medicaid/CHIP participation, dental practice type affiliation, and supply per 100,000 population.  

Download the Excel file for your state's results.

HPI compared Medicaid fee-for-service (FFS) reimbursement rates to private dental insurance reimbursement rates and fees charged by dentists. Data include all 50 states and the District of Columbia for child dental services and states with FFS or managed care programs for adult dental services.

See how your state compares.

HPI prepared at-a-glance reports on self-reported oral health and well-being, attitudes toward oral health, and barriers to dental care for adults in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and the United States.

See how your state compares.

HPI prepared at-a-glance reports on an array of oral health care system indicators for all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Topics include dental care utilization, oral health status, oral health knowledge and attitudes, water fluoridation rates, reimbursement rates to providers, dentist-to-population ratios, and the percentage of dentists who participate in Medicaid.

See how your state compares.

HPI developed a workforce projection model to estimate the future supply of dentists in the United States as well as in specific states. The empirical micro-simulation model accounts for expected economic downturns and inflows, outflows, and shifts in the age and gender composition of the dental workforce. This analysis is customizable and can be replicated at the state level.

See the analysis for the U.S.

See the analysis for select states.

Contact HPI to inquire about customizing this analysis for your state.

HPI developed a customizable modeling tool to estimate the cost of introducing an adult dental benefit in a state’s Medicaid program. See the results for 22 states in the research brief.

Contact HPI to inquire about customizing this analysis, including assumptions, for your state.

The Connecticut Dental Health Partnership and the United Way of Connecticut collaborated on a telephone mystery shopper survey to assess the validity of Medicaid dental care provider lists for HUSKY (i.e., Medicaid) recipients. This survey is an excellent resource for state policymakers and can be replicated in other states.

See the full report or contact HPI for more information about this program.

HPI analyzed Medicaid fee-for-service (FFS) reimbursement rate data for dental care services, measuring Medicaid FFS reimbursement relative to typical commercial dental insurance charges. For pediatric dental care services, data are available for all 50 states and the District of Columbia. For adult dental care services, data are available for select states that provide dental benefits beyond emergency care to the majority of their adult Medicaid population.

See the results in the research brief.

This ADA-produced toolkit outlines elements that states should consider when working on contracts for the administration of Medicaid dental benefits. Topics include assuring an adequate network; continuity of care; fee schedules and reimbursement; claims processing and appeals; and the role of peers in resolving issues, among other topics.