Dentistry for the Disabled?
Well, it's mid August and still Donna's problem with her tooth and tongue has not been resolved. We found out recently that it is a broken tooth that has been cutting into her tongue and causing this large painful lesion that won't heal. Donna does not have private insurance and this has been a major obstacle to getting decent treatment. I recently spoke over the phone with a woman from an organization called Dentistry for the Disabled. I asked her for a list of names of dentists who accept patients with Medicaid or Medicare. She gave me one name...period!!! And, she said she's not sure he's still taking Medicaid patients. Well, Donna needs an oral surgeon, because she has to be sedated to take care of this problem, and there are no oral surgeons who accept Medicaid or Medicare. I spoke to one recently who told me that what Medicaid pays wouldn't even cover his expenses. What good are these government health care programs if they pay so little that no dentist will accept patients with only this coverage? Is this how America treats the disabled and the poor? If someone can't afford private insurance just let them suffer!!! It's a disgrace! A friend of mine in the Netherlands was totally shocked when he heard we are having this problem. It wouldn't happen in his country.
posted by jaz at 8:58 PM
4 Comments:
Does Donna have a Primary Care Physician? Maybe they can refer her to a dentist that takes medicare/ medicaid. If you have tried that, try contacting your local Center for Independent Living. Usually they're a good source to get information from. I am so sorry that Donna is in so much pain...
Thanks much for you concern...really appreciate it. Donna is feeling a little better today...the lesion under her tongue seems to be starting to heal. Fri. after many phone calls, I finally found a dentist who will treat Donna and accept her Medicaid. We are lucky that he is only about 6 miles away. We have an appointment for Monday. Most of the disabled go to the dental clinic at the hospital, but the dentists there were unable to resolve Donna's problem and actually misdiagnosed it causing her several weeks of unnecessary suffering. They are dental residents, not fully licensed dentists...they are fresh out of dental school, so obviously not the most experienced people to treat a serious condition. But if you are poor and disabled you usually have to settle for second rate treatment, and this is disgracefull!!!
It sure is, why can't Madicare and/Medicare have a list of Dentists that will accept the insurance? If our Government can afford to spend billions in Iraq, then they should have enough money to spare for proper dental care!
It's a question of priorities, I guess. There's always enough money to go around to finance these huge political campaigns and to fund these big pork barrel projects for powerful people in congress. And when it comes to giving tax breaks to multi-millionaires, Bush is always the first in line to lend his support. If the super rich were to pay even a little MORE, there would be more than enough money to fund proper dental care for the poor and disabled. It's just NOT a priority of the rich and powerful who run this country.
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