Many adult Medicaid beneficiaries, like Kay, need but cannot get dental and vision care. While federal law requires that state Medicaid programs cover dental and vision services for children, states have the option to cover or omit these services for adults. Because of severe and ongoing strains on state budgets due to the recession, many states have reduced or eliminated optional Medicaid services for adults in recent years. For example, during 2010 and 2011, Oregon and nine other states cut back or terminated their adult dental benefits.

For more information on Oregon’s Medicaid program and other data on health coverage, access and expenditures, please visit Oregon’s page at www.statehealthfacts.org.