71,000 Ga. children may lose dental care when contract ends

<p>A dental care provider for underserved children in Georgia said Monday that up to 71,000 low-income children will lose dental care by the end of August when two managed care organizations end their contracts with the company.</p><p>Two "care management organizations," Peach State and WellCare, are expected to end their contracts with Kool Smiles, said Dr. David Strange, the company's chief dental officer. The 5-year-old Atlanta-based company has 10 Georgia offices, including sites in Columbus, Dalton and Valdosta.</p><p>But state officials said Monday parents of the affected children may sign them up for Medicaid dental service through other dentists nearby.</p><p>"There are dentists all over the state, even within four to five miles of the Kool Smiles location, that take Medicaid, said Amanda Seals, spokeswoman for the Georgia Department of Community Health. "As an agency, we have been monitoring the network and will be continuing to do so. This is a contract between the CMO and the provider and we do not engage directly in contract negotiations."</p><p>The organizations represent two of Georgia's three managed care organizations responsible for Medicaid dental coverage for children. The other one is Amerigroup, said Dena Brummer, a spokeswoman for the Department of Community Health.</p><p>Because Kool Smiles only treats children on Medicaid or PeachCare _ Georgia's health insurance program for low-income children _ Strange said the loss of the two managed care organizations "very much does jeopardize our business" and opens the possibility the Atlanta-based company will be forced to close, Strange said.</p><p>"This prevents us from providing the care that we believe the children need," Strange said. "The overwhelming majority of those children will not be able to find a dental home."</p><p>Amerigroup is continuing coverage for Kool Smiles, said Kool Smiles spokeswoman Beth Cope.</p><p>Phone messages to WellCare, Peach State and Amerigroup were not immediately returned Monday.</p>

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