Fiscal Note
Funding is included in the Executive 2015 Public Health Operating Budget under account number UA77-54920-771100. The Operating Budget amendment required for 2014 is as follows:
$1,750 UA77-54920-771100 Community Agency Contracts
($1,750) UA77-51100-771100 Permanent Salaries
There is no anticipated impact on the tax levy.
Title
Authorizing a contract with Madison Dental Initiative, Inc. for the coordination of dental services
Body
Preamble: As a local health department, Public Health-Madison and Dane County (PHMDC) is required by the state to monitor access to services, particularly for residents without medical or dental coverage or those who do not have the means to pay for those services. Access to medical services for the uninsured is less of an issue in Dane County than in many other communities due to the presence of Access Community Health Center (ACHC), a federally-qualified health center that has been providing services since 1982. ACHC is currently serving about 23,000 clients each year; most reside in Dane County.
Access to dental services has been more problematic. There has been a dearth of providers willing to work with clients with medical assistance or clients with no insurance at all. ACHC and the Max Pohle Clinic at Meriter Hospital have been the primary providers of dental services for uninsured residents. PHMDC has had a contract with ACHC for the provision of emergency dental services for more than a decade. There is also a small cluster of volunteer dentists involved with the Madison Dental Initiative, Inc (MDI). They have been working through a clinic at the Salvation Army, but have limited capacity.
Unfortunately, Max Pohle Clinic will be closing at the end of June 2015. Access is currently working at capacity and has not been able to take on new clients for several months. Indications are that they will not be able to take on new clients for at least a year. Access to dental services for uninsured clients has neve...
Click here for full text