Across the United States, Medicaid provides comprehensive dental coverage for all enrolled children, but Medicaid coverage for adults varies by state. Over the last few decades, the United States has made significant progress in improving dental care for children. 

One factor that has may partially explain why substantial disparities in oral health have persisted for children with Medicaid coverage are those differences in adult Medicaid coverage. Studies have shown that reducing adult Medicaid dental benefits results in reduced access to dental care among low-income adults, but does this also impact children?

Reynolds and her research team hypothesize that it does. They expect that states with more generous benefits for adults spills over and improve access to preventive care for low-income children while reducing visits to the emergency room for dental problems.

If this hypothesis is correct, then it suggests our commitment to improving the oral health care for low-income children, as evidenced by access to Medicaid, provides a strong rationale for expanding dental Medicaid benefits for adults. Very few studies have examined this relationship, and this study will add substantially to our understanding of spillover effects of adult Medicaid policies on children

The overall goal for the project is to improve access to dental care for children in low-income families, thereby improving oral health outcomes. Reynolds coinvestigators are Dan Shane, associate professor in the University of Iowa College of Public Health, and Astha Singhal, associate professor at the University of Florida.