Activists target cuts in Medicaid

A small but determined group of people gathered at the governor's office Monday in hopes of getting lost funding restored for dental and vision coverage in Utah's Medicaid program.

Representatives from the Disabled Rights Action Committee, Community Action Program and Anti-Hunger Action Committee met with Gov. Mike Leavitt's chief of staff, Rich McKeown, and budget and research analyst Nate Checketts.

The groups want $2.5 million from approximately $30 million of already designated Medicaid funds for dental and vision coverage.

That $2.5 million of state Medicaid funds would be matched by an approximate three-to-one in federal funds. DRAC project coordinator Jerry Costley said the state's funding, matched by the federal funding, "will help people get back into the workforce. This has a broad impact." And, Costley added, pointing to the federal matching system, "It's a heck of a deal" for the state, which will have to put in "very little effort and no additional cost."

Utah's dental coverage under Medicaid was cut off last year, and the vision coverage was cut off in January.

Lopeti Spenima'ani, who was at the meeting, would appreciate the help. He has four impacted teeth. "I have experienced firsthand the horrors of the dental/Medicaid catastrophe. . . . It's a snowball effect. One problem leads to another problem, if it's not taken care of."

Spenima'ani, who is active in the community and is on the governor's council, said his lack of dental coverage is "affecting my ability to be involved. I want to continue being a contributing member of society, but this is preventing me in more ways than one."

McKeown and Checketts could not be reached for comment Monday afternoon, but Barbara Toomer of DRAC said the meeting went well.

"I'm hoping that they will do it. They sounded very positive," Toomer said. "And they said it makes sense if we do this expeditiously."

To get the funding allocated, the Executive Appropriations Committee, on recommendation from McKeown and Checketts, would have to approve the request at its July 15 meeting. If approved, the dental and vision programs could be implemented immediately, Costley said. "We could have Lopeti in the dentist's chair by July 17." Toomer said if approved, the program would have "a huge impact" on the health of people receiving Medicaid.

"Unfortunately, in our society we base everything on looks. And people with bad teeth will have a hard time getting a job and getting off welfare," she said. "If you don't have a full set of teeth, you'll never climb out of that hole."

If the request is not approved, DRAC plans to implement the "Adopt a Medicaid Recipient" program, through which charities and individuals can "adopt" Medicaid recipients and pay for all dental and vision services they need.

"We'll go whatever route we're forced to," Costley said, although they don't want to "resort to asking for charity."

Added Spenima'ani, "It's somewhat embarrassing to ask for help that should be provided in the first place."

Costley pointed out Medicaid recipients received a lot of help from legislators in this year's session. "We need to give them credit for that." But, he added, "We need to get to this, too."

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