States that cut Medicaid dental benefits for adults would keep only about 20 to 50 cents of every dollar removed from the program, according to a Harvard analysis published Oct. 16 in JAMA Health Forum. The rest is federal funding that states would give up.
The finding comes as states look for savings under tighter budgets. Adult dental care is optional under federal Medicaid rules, which makes it a frequent target when lawmakers need to trim spending.
