Impact of variations in access to orthodontic treatment among Medicaid populations: Oregon and Washington patient perspective

Oregon Health Plan (OHP) is Oregon’s state Medicaid program. It provides health care coverage for low-income individuals and families. The goals of OHP are to increase access to health care for low-income people, improve the quality of care and access to preventative services, as well as lower the cost of health care. By investigating covered and noncovered dental services, program evaluators have the opportunity to determine which services should be prioritized. The purpose of this study was to quantify the incidence of disparities and adverse psychosocial impacts, as reported by the patient, in accessing orthodontic treatment.