Republicans Delay Access to Dental Services for Milwaukee Kids and Families

Republicans Delay Access to Dental Services for Milwaukee Kids and Families

Inaction Endangers $309,000 for Milwaukee's Madre Angela Clinic

MILWAUKEE - Inaction by the Republican Legislature has delayed critical funding to improve dental access for children - including $309,000 designated for the Madre Angela Clinic in Milwaukee. The funding has been delayed indefinitely because Republican members of the Joint Committee on Finance objected to the Governor's proposal and delayed action, possibly for months.

"It's unfortunate that Republicans in the Legislature are obstructing this. There are children across our state who can't sleep at night, who can't concentrate in school because their teeth hurt and we shouldn't turn our backs to them," Governor Doyle said. "The Committee could have taken action, but instead they are forcing kids to wait at least another three months before they will have access to dental services."

Earlier this month, Governor Jim Doyle announced $4.25 million to improve dental access for low-income children and families since many find it very difficult to find a dentist willing to serve them. As part of his proposal, the Madre Angela Clinic was supposed to receive a $309,000 grant to help them expand their work with Milwaukee Public School students. The Clinic provides dental services to 5,000 adults and children each year through walk-ins and appointments. Madre Angela also provides urgent dental care in Milwaukee for people without insurance. In addition, the Clinic provides restorative care, dental appliances, dental hygiene services and a children's dental sealant program.

Dental decay is the number one chronic disease of childhood, particularly among low-income children who often don't have access to a dentist. Many low-income families, seniors and people with disabilities struggle to find oral health care, even if they are on Medicaid or BadgerCare, because there isn't a dentist in their area who will accept them.

Governor Doyle has proposed approximately $3.25 million to be issued as one-time grants to counties, organizations and oral health care facilities with qualified proposals to improve access to preventative and restorative services on a first-come-first-serve basis. Grants will range in size between $25,000 and $500,000 to create or expand successful local programs.

The remaining $1 million has been designated for three specific programs that are in need of immediate financial assistance and have been successful in ensuring dental care for kids in Wisconsin. They include the Madre Angela Clinic in Milwaukee and these other two programs:

* The Healthy Teeth, Healthy Kids project in Green Bay which provides preventive and restorative dental care for children in need. A grant of $341,000 was designated to expand the number of children served, and develop specialized services to persons with developmental disabilities.
* Scenic Bluffs Community Health Center of La Crosse partners with Western Technical College and the Health Sciences Consortium to provide primary and preventative dental services in and around the La Crosse area. A $350,000 grant was going to help them create a sustainable clinic, expand facilities and expand increase number of patients they are able to serve. The Center was developed to reach populations unaccustomed to using traditional ambulatory health care services, especially the elderly population and the local Amish community. In 2005, it provided dental care for 3,715 patients.

The Governor's proposal requires approval by the Joint Committee on Finance. The Committee has initially objected to the plan under passive review and must take it up at a future meeting. The Committee does not have any future meetings scheduled. That has delayed the funding indefinitely.

http://www.wisgov.state.wi.us/journal_media_detail.asp?locid=19&prid=2386