The State Children’s Health Insurance Program, or SCHIP, which is in place in 49 states, has improved dental-care access for children from low-income families, concludes a study released last week.
“SCHIP Takes a Bite Out of the Dental Access Gap for Low-Income Children” is available online from Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. ()
The study—conducted by Mathematica Policy Research, a nonprofit Cambridge, Mass.-based research firm—found that children enrolled in SCHIP went to the dentist more regularly and were less likely to experience delayed access to care than before they entered the program.
However, the study also found that some parents with children enrolled in the program complained about limited dental benefits, a low number of available providers, and restrictive appointment hours.
