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ACLU urges parents
to use free dental care
for children in
Med-Quest, Medicare

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Star-Bulletin staff

The American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii is taking steps to help deal with what its legal director, Brent White, says is a Hawaii epidemic -- lack of adequate dental care for children.

The ACLU has produced a dental care brochure to advise parents in the Med-QUEST program of their children's right to prompt and proper dental care.

It also has set up a hot line to monitor problems encountered by parents in trying to get dental care for children.

White said the ACLU spent nine months investigating access to dental care for Med-QUEST and Medicaid children and found parents haven't been informed effectively of the importance of regular dental care and the right to free preventive dental care for children.

Despite risks for serious oral problems, only 33 percent of Med-QUEST and Medicaid children received at least one dental service in 1998-99, White said. No figures were available for 1999-2000.

Rather than address the inadequate access issue, he said, "The state has apparently been operating under the assumption that if parents don't know their children are entitled to dental care, they won't demand that they actually receive dental services."

The brochure explains that children on Med-QUEST are entitled to free dental care and it's essential to their welfare.

Oral problems can restrict activities and affect self-esteem and self-image, as well as interfere with eating, swallowing, breathing and speaking.

Until the age of 21, children on Med-QUEST are entitled to dental check-ups every six months, as well as follow-ups, the ACLU points out.

Dental services should be provided within one month for routine care and within 48 hours for emergencies.

The state Department of Human Services, which administers the Med-QUEST health care program, is required by law to provide help with scheduling and transportation.

ACLU contract attorney Nalani Fujimori said where dental care isn't readily available the brochure offers suggestions to parents on what to do.

The hot line was established so the ACLU can monitor the extent of the problem and ensure that the state complies with federal law, Fujimori said.

The ACLU is distributing the brochure through primary care centers, the Legal Aid Society and social service agencies.

It's free to the public and available by contacting the ACLU.

The Hawaii Dental Hotline number is 522-5904 on Oahu; 1-808-522-5904 on the neighbor islands.