Premium
Does covering routine dental care for the Medicare population produce cost savings in Medicare? A preliminary 2‐year analysis
Author(s) -
Moeller John F.,
Manski Richard J.,
Chen Haiyan,
Zuvekas Samuel H.,
Meyerhoefer Chad D.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of public health dentistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.64
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1752-7325
pISSN - 0022-4006
DOI - 10.1111/jphd.12342
Subject(s) - medicine , medical expenditure panel survey , medical prescription , dental care , prescription drug , health care , medical care , preventive care , family medicine , ambulatory care , population , medical emergency , environmental health , health insurance , nursing , economics , economic growth
Objectives We estimated the association between the use of preventive dental care and medical use and expense for older persons over a 2‐year period to determine if a Medicare dental benefit for routine care could result in potential cost savings in Medicare. Methods We relied on 2008‐2014 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data to estimate separate logistic and lognormal ordinary least squares regressions to analyze the influence of year 1 preventive dental care on either year 1 or year 2 use and expenses for total health care, office‐based care, outpatient care, inpatient stays, emergency department visits, and prescription drugs. Results Our findings provide evidence over a 2‐year period that a Medicare dental benefit for routine care could produce an increase in office‐based visits and expense. We also found that older persons currently using routine dental care have healthier lifestyles and greater access to care and use of preventive medical care than current nonusers. Conclusion Our results affirm the need for a longer‐term study to provide any conclusive evidence as to the ultimate impact of a Medicare dental benefit on other health care use and expenses.