IADR Abstract Archives
Medicaid Refugee Children Receiving Oral Health Care in Washington State
Objectives: More than 3.4 million refugees have been admitted in American soil. Washington (WA) is among the top 3 States welcoming refugees. The study investigated the characteristics of refugee children who sought oral health care in WA state upon their first-year of arrival.
Methods: Using Medicaid eligibility and claim data (≤ 21 years old) in 2015 to 2016, we selected the first 12 consecutive months of eligibility and claims data among those who eligible starting in 2015. Demographics (age, sex, country of origin, races, language spoken), disability status and edibility month were in eligibility data. The type of claims were classified as diagnostic, preventive, restorative, surgical, orthodontic procedures. ANOVA were used to compare different utilizations across groups. The critical value was determined at 0.05.
Results: Of 1125 children, 874(78%) received oral health services. Among those who received services, majority were males (54.8%). Younger children aged 0-6(39.2%) were the largest group. About a third was white (29.9%), black (20.0%), Asian/Pacific Islander(8.1%), and other(16.4%). were 1.8% of the children with disability. Children of age 0-6 years had most dental utilization overall. More younger children utilized preventive services(p<0.001) and more older children use restorative services(p<0.001). More males utilized restorative services(p=0.03). Children with disabled status had more dental visits but less preventive visits than those without the status. Different utilizations overall and in restorative services in children from different races/ethnicity background and different countries of origins (all with p<0.001).
Conclusions: One out of five refugee children did not utilize any dental service within the first year of arrival. Age, sex and disability status were not the relevant characteristics associated with overall dental utilization. Race/ethnicity background, spoken languages, and countries of origin were significantly associated with overall utilization. To maximize access in this vulnerable population, more customized services should be implemented to expand utilization.
Methods: Using Medicaid eligibility and claim data (≤ 21 years old) in 2015 to 2016, we selected the first 12 consecutive months of eligibility and claims data among those who eligible starting in 2015. Demographics (age, sex, country of origin, races, language spoken), disability status and edibility month were in eligibility data. The type of claims were classified as diagnostic, preventive, restorative, surgical, orthodontic procedures. ANOVA were used to compare different utilizations across groups. The critical value was determined at 0.05.
Results: Of 1125 children, 874(78%) received oral health services. Among those who received services, majority were males (54.8%). Younger children aged 0-6(39.2%) were the largest group. About a third was white (29.9%), black (20.0%), Asian/Pacific Islander(8.1%), and other(16.4%). were 1.8% of the children with disability. Children of age 0-6 years had most dental utilization overall. More younger children utilized preventive services(p<0.001) and more older children use restorative services(p<0.001). More males utilized restorative services(p=0.03). Children with disabled status had more dental visits but less preventive visits than those without the status. Different utilizations overall and in restorative services in children from different races/ethnicity background and different countries of origins (all with p<0.001).
Conclusions: One out of five refugee children did not utilize any dental service within the first year of arrival. Age, sex and disability status were not the relevant characteristics associated with overall dental utilization. Race/ethnicity background, spoken languages, and countries of origin were significantly associated with overall utilization. To maximize access in this vulnerable population, more customized services should be implemented to expand utilization.