September 3, 2009

 

Dear Community Partner:

 

Recently, Health Foundation of South Florida commissioned a survey of Miami-Dade safety net dental clinics.  In part, this was done to update an earlier report that was produced in 2005.  The 2009 report, which is attached, has been compiled from the responses of the 22 facilities that took part in the survey.  They represent a variety of healthcare settings, such as hospital, community-based and mobile clinics.  As a group, they serve over 33,000 patients per year for a total of more than 84,000 dental visits.  Together they comprise the dental safety net for the uninsured and underserved of Miami-Dade County.

 

This report includes material on the number and types of dental services provided, as well as race, ethnicity and age data for the population served.  Revenue and funding information is also included.  It is worthwhile noting that only 5% of dental care costs are funded publicly (mostly through Medicaid).  This is very different than in the larger healthcare market where 32% of physician services are covered by public sources.  The survey also includes information on staffing and the facilities themselves (number of operatories, x-ray machines, etc.).  Finally, it includes the constraints to provision of services that these facilities are experiencing and the policy measures they recommend to correct these problems.

 

Please feel free to circulate this survey.  If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact me via email kmiller@hfsf.org or 305-374-6442.

 

Thank you,

 

Karen Miller

 

 Oral Healthcare Access for the Uninsured and Underserved in Miami-Dade County