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• Low reimbursement forcing dentists away from low-income patients
• Lawmakers tell Elections Board to put voting policy in writing
• More veterans now eligible for Wisconsin Veterans home loan program

By Brady Bautch, RiverTown Staff Writer

Because they are reimbursed only 40 cents for every billable dollar Wisconsin dentists are taking on fewer lower income Wisconsin residents

This leaves many low-income residents without any type of dental care.

"This is a problem which has reached crisis level and the state has chosen not to make it a priority," said Dr. Kent Vandehaar, a Chippewa Falls dentist.

The WDA argues that the state only spends a fraction of the entire medical assistance budget on dental care.

Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services figures show that in 2003 out of a total medical assistance budget of $4.02 billion only $26.4 million was spent on dental care.

In 2005 only $29.3 million was spent on dental care out of a 4.39 billion budget.

Vandehaar says he currently treats Medicaid patients, but is not taking on any more because as a small business owner he can't afford it.

"I get reimbursed only 40 cents while our overhead is 65 cents and we are not going to shift the burden onto those who have insurance and make them pay more," Vandehaar said. "I want to help out, but I can't pay my staff with those rates."

Sen. Dan Kapanke, R-La Crosse, has been leading the way on the problem and agrees with Vandehaar.

"Reimbursement rates have got to increase," Kapanke said. "Dentists are treating some Medicaid patients, but they can only do that so long."

Kapanke has been holding these symposiums on the problem in La Crosse since the beginning of the year and says he doesn't have any proposals yet, but hopes to have something by the time the Legislature starts tackling the state budget in January.

With the state facing a $1.5 billion deficit at the beginning of the next budget it may be hard to find the money.

"We have to find something," Kapanke said. "People are walking around in pain, needing care and we need to address that."

One other area legislator agrees and says some other programs may have to be cut in order to increase rates.

"I think we are going to have to start doing what we should've been doing all along and that is to make some very serious cuts," said Sen. Ron Brown, R-Eau Claire.

Brown added that he believes that dentists are compassionate to those in need, but there is a limit to what they can do. He believes the state needs to set the program as a priority in the budget.

Kapanke added one cure may be getting more federal reimbursements.

"Wisconsin is 49th or 50th in getting money from the federal government and that has to change," Kapanke added.

One action taken this month by the Legislature was to allow reimbursements to dental hygienists for teeth cleaning, fluoride treatments and for sealants.

This decision was strongly opposed by the WDA who said in a press release that the move will lower standards of dental care in the state and does not address the urgent health care needs of low-income children and adults.

Another area legislator who attended the symposium in Independence disagreed.

"Do we allow children's teeth to decay or do we make it easier for them to get the preventative care they need," asked Rep. Barb Gronemus, D-Whitehall.

Gronemus does agree with the WDA's proposed plan for an excise tax on soda.

"I think the idea of putting an excise tax on soda with the money going to fund dental care is a good one," Gronemus said.

A bill (AB 11168) was introduced in April that would put a wholesale excise tax on soft drinks in the state. The revenue from the tax would then be put into a dental access trust fund.

The non-partisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau estimates the bill would generate approximately $83.6 million in revenue.

DHFS officials urge Medicaid or BadgerCare participants to call Recipient Services at 800-362-3002 or 608-221-5720 for a list of participating dentists in their area.

Brady Bautch is the Internet Publisher for the RiverTown Newspaper Group. He can be contacted at internet@rivertowns.net

By Wheeler News Service

Lawmakers want the State Elections Board to put its controversial policy for dealing with first-time voters in writing, so they can officially shoot it down.

Last week, the board re-affirmed that it would let newcomers vote by either showing a driver's license or the last four digits of their Social Security numbers something Republicans claim is illegal.

Yesterday, the Legislature's Joint Committee for the Review of Administrative Rules unanimously asked the Elections Board to put its policy in the form of a rule. That way, lawmakers could exercise their legal right to reject it if they choose.

The GOP says the policy violates the federal Help America Vote Act because voters must show their licenses if they have them. They say it would cut down on fraud, but critics say Republicans are just trying to keep potential Democrats from voting this fall.

Elections Board director Kevin Kennedy says the feds have talked about suing Wisconsin over the matter. The board will take it up again July 19th.

Veterans who served in Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia and other conflicts since the Vietnam War are now eligible to get home loans through the Wisconsin's veterans home loan program.

These veterans were prohibited from using the program because of a federal law which allowed the state to issue tax-exempt bonds and then use the proceeds to fund mortgage loans for veterans who served on active duty prior to 1977.

The federal legislation expanded the definition of eligibility to all qualifying veterans who are within 25 years of the date of their discharge from military service.

Veterans looking for more information on the program should contact their county Veterans Services Office or visit the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs Web site at www.dva.wi.us