Dental-school bid spurs study of Medicaid rules

Thursday, March 11, 1999 | 11:15 a.m.

The deputy administrator of the Nevada Medicaid office is looking into the feasibility of using Medicaid funds earmarked for dental care to help build a dental school.

"I have assigned a member of the staff to the task," April Townley said Wednesday.

Sen. Ray Rawson, R-Las Vegas, wants to use $13 million in state Medicaid funding currently earmarked to pay dentists throughout the state for the creation of a temporary dental school program in Southern Nevada.

Rawson, a dentist, said a dental facility can be housed, for now, either in an existing building at the Community College of Southern Nevada or UNLV.

Townley, citing complex Medicaid regulations, said it will take some time to research the subject.

She believes it might be possible for a dental school to be a service provider for Medicaid but isn't sure about the amount of funds that might be used.

"I can't comment on the dollar amount," she said.

Once a dental program is established, Rawson wants the state to issue general obligation bonds to build a permanent dental school building in Clark County, estimated to cost $25 million to $28 million.

The senator said the need for dental care in Nevada is staggering. He said University Medical Center alone treated 2,400 people for dental problems last year.

"It's estimated that 75,000 children have 80 percent of the dental problems in the state," Rawson said.

He said Medicaid provides $23 per child for dental work.

"No real dental care can be given for this amount of money. A dental school would be able to treat these people. Each faculty member would be required to see patients one day a week," Rawson said.