Dental-care crisis

One in 4 Washington residents (1.7 million) is on Medicaid.

Washington's medicaid reimbursement rate for adult dental care is...
29 cents on the dollar
As a result, the number of Washington Dentists who accept medicaid is only...
3 in 10
Four states have lower medicaid reimbursment rates:
  • Washington
    28.7%
  • Minnesota
    27.1%
  • Michigan
    20.3%
  • New Jersey
    17.8%
  • Illinois
    13.8%
The percentage of the State's dental needs that are met is...
28%
The no. 1 reason uninsured people went to the emergency room in 2010:
Dental problems
Sources: Health Policy Institute, American Dental Association, National Academy for State Health Policy, The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, Washington State Hospital Association
GARLAND POTTS / THE SEATTLE TIMES