Will COVID-19 Weaken the Dental Care Safety Net?

COVID-19 is disproportionately impacting vulnerable populations. This webinar from the ADA Health Policy Institute (HPI) will highlight new data from private practice and public health dentists collected as part of HPI’s tracking of the impact of COVID-19. Join this panel discussion for an overview of HPI research related to the dental safety net and emerging concerns as the dental sector recovers:

• How does patient volume compare in high and low income areas?
• Have dentists dropped out of Medicaid since the onset of the pandemic?
• Is hospital operating room time for high need dental patients being limited due to the hospital “surge”?

HPI Chief Economist Marko Vujicic will moderate, and HPI Senior Health Policy Analyst Dr. Chelsea Fosse will present. Panelists include Dr. Monica Hebl, a general dentist in Milwaukee; Dr. Darwin Hayes, the State Dental Director of New Jersey; and Dr. Nicole Weddell, a pediatric dentist in Indianapolis. There will be time for audience Q&A, or feel free to submit questions in advance.