Low-Income Clinics Suffer from Nixon's Budget Withholds

For too long, uninsured patients and individuals in underserved areas of the US have received uncoordinated, crisis-driven medical care. Federally qualified health centers (FQHC), or community health centers, seek to change the healthcare landscape by providing comprehensive primary care to low-income families to improve wellness and avert unnecessary emergency room visits.

I have visited two FQHCs recently, the People’s Health Clinic in St. Louis and the Community Health Center of Central Missouri in Jefferson City. The Community Health Center of Central Missouri sees 2,000 low-income patients each month at its four mid-Missouri locations. During a tour of the Jefferson City clinic, I was able to view the clinic’s family medicine, pediatrics, dentistry, pain management, and optometry facilities.

Offering a wide array of services under one roof allows for more collaborative medicine and comprehensive care. For example, poor oral health is linked to cardiovascular and immune problems, so addressing oral health concerns can mitigate patients’ risks for other complications. Dental pain often sends patients to the emergency room where they can only receive temporary treatment. At an FQHC or similar dental clinic, dentists can eliminate the root of the pain and help prevent future oral health problems for a fraction of the cost of an emergency room visit.

The fiscal year 2015 budget passed by the General Assembly included funding to cover dental services for adults on Medicaid, which would have allowed FQHCs and other providers to serve more adults in need of oral healthcare. Unfortunately, Governor Nixon chose to withhold this money. The doctors and staff we met on the tour agreed that their top wish for the upcoming legislative session was for Governor Nixon to release the funding for adult dental services.

The benefits of comprehensive medical care extend well beyond oral health. If a doctor at the FQHC in Jefferson City sees a patient whose health conditions are exacerbated by behavioral health challenges or a poor diet, that patient can see a dietitian or behavioral health specialist during the same visit. These areas of health are highly intertwined, and more holistic care can improve patients’ overall wellness instead of just combating symptoms.

I strongly agree with the clinic’s staff that Governor Nixon must prioritize covering dental services for adults on Medicaid. Our state’s resources are limited, but this reform would generate a tremendous return on investment by improving patient wellness and diverting unnecessary ER visits. Regardless of the Governor’s decision, however, strengthening services for vulnerable Missourians on Medicaid will remain a top priority for the House this year.