State reports: Providers struggle to make do with limited resources

Funding cuts are hurting dentists and hospitals, and squeezing providers that continue to treat low-income patients. Meanwhile, Massachusetts loses a key health official.

The Grand Rapids Press: "West Michigan dentists and mental health advocates are calling on state officials to restore adult Medicaid dental benefits eliminated earlier this year. The push comes after a severely mentally impaired Alpena County woman died this week, reportedly when an infection in her mouth went untreated" (King, 10/22).

West Virginia Public Broadcasting: "The Eastern Panhandle Free Clinic recently announced it is no longer accepting new patients. The clinic is one of ten across West Virginia that's struggling to give health care to more people with fewer resources" (Mason, 10/22).

WBUR (NPR member station): Massachusetts' health reform efforts could be pushing some "safety net" hospitals into bankruptcy and several are threatening to sue the state for more financial help. Hospital executives say the state has unfairly put the burden of reform on the safety net hospitals by cutting reimbursement rates below sustainable levels (Pfeiffer, 10/22).

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This article was reprinted from khn.org with permission from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. Kaiser Health News, an editorially independent news service, is a program of the Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonpartisan health care policy research organization unaffiliated with Kaiser Permanente.