Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #108342

Wenhui Wei, PhD, Institute for Health, Health Care Policy, and Aging Research, Rutgers University, 30 College Ave, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, Usha Sambamoorthi, PhD, Division of Health Systems and Policy, School of Public Health, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, 11 Bartram Road, Englishtown, NJ 07726, 732-972-6232, sambamus@rwja.umdnj.edu, and Patricia A. Findley, DrPH, MSW, Program for Disability Research, Rutgers University, 303 George Street, Suite 405, New Brunswick, NJ 08901.

Objective: This study analyzes dental health care use and expenditures among working age individuals with activity, functional, and sensory limitations (i.e. disabilities).

Study Design: Nationally representative 2001 Medical Expenditures Panel Survey was to examine dental health care use and out-of- pocket (OOP) expenditures on dental care. Dental health care use was measured by visits to a dentist during the study period. Both dental health care and OOP expenditures were self-reported.

Population Studied: Sample consisted of 3,284 adults aged between 21 and 62 years and alive as of the end of 2001.

Principal Findings: Overall, a minority 44% had any dental care visits. On the average, disabled individuals spent $226 on dental care, 4% of total health care expenditures. However, 48% ($108) of this total was spent OOP. We found that individuals with high socioeconomic status were more likely to have dental care visits and spend more on dental health care.

Conclusion: Our findings highlight under utilization of oral health care by individuals with disability. In addition, most of the cost of dental health care is borne by the individual and not a third party insurer. Socioeconomic status was associated with dental health care.

Implications for Policy, Delivery or Practice: There is a high level of unmet need for dental health care among individuals with disabilities. Future research needs to focus on access barriers other than socioeconomic status, so that targeted interventions can be designed to improve access to dental care among those with disabilities.

Learning Objectives:

• The learner will (a) describe the correlates of dental health care among individuals with disability and (b) understand the financial burden of dental health care on individuals with disabilities.

Keywords: Access to Health Care, Cost Issues

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.