A coalition of dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants, dental clinics and oral health advocates have come together to support raising HUSKY dental rates to at least the 70TH percentile of dentists’ fees, about $14.50 per child per month.

• Most HUSKY children do not receive oral health services because of low reimbursement rates.
  In a 2006 study, only 27% of persistent ‘mystery shoppers’ were able to get a preventive dental appointment.
• Talks to settle a nearly seven-year-old lawsuit against the State on HUSKY reimbursement rates have not fixed the problem.
• More than 350 Connecticut dentists have pledged to serve more HUSKY children if rates are raised: 270 new dentists would participate and 84 current participants would serve more.

Senator Williams announces the Connecticut Health First Initiative in a press conference at Hartford Hospital. Behind him are Senators Ed Meyer and Jonathan Harris. (January 25, 2007)


State Senate President Donald Williams unveiled details last Thursday of his plan to provide more Connecticut residents with affordable health care, at a press conference in Hartford. Increasing dental reimbursement rates is a part of the proposal.

It is a two part effort to cover the state's estimated 400,000 uninsured residents that would see implementation as SB 1. Sen. Williams said his $450 million plan would cover more than 140,000 uninsured people in one year by expanding eligibility for SAGA, Medicaid and HUSKY.

About $250 million would be spent to raise reimbursement rates for health care providers who serve SAGA, HUSKY and Medicaid patients. Dental rates would rise to the 70th percentile. Other provider rates would mirror federal reimbursement rates for Medicare providers.

Williams said he plans to convene a health care panel to come up with ways to cover the remaining 260,000 uninsured.

We applaud Senator Williams for supporting improvement of access to oral health care.

Supporters of access to oral health care can use COHI's legislative action website.

At the website you can do a host of things including track bills, send e-mails to legislators, legislative committees and legislators by town. The site also has links to information, hearing & meeting schedules and more.

The site is maintained by Judith Blei Government Relations. To access the site click on the link below. Then choose "Log in to our secure bill tracking site (username and password required)" Type in the username "cohi" (without the quotes) and the password "cohi" (without the quotes) to enter the legislative action site. You can focus on key legislation by clicking on "List Priority Bills Only".