Cheboygan closed its clinic Jan. 1, 1998. Both are believed to have lost their dentists because of the low rate of reimbursement for Medicaid patients. The closings have put such a strain on the remaining clinics that their future may now be at risk, Chase said. If Grand Traverse doesn't reopen it would just put such an outside demand on our clinics that our board I don't think would justify keeping them open. The three clinics already see 5,000 patients annually.
Some patients wait months and drive up to two hours for an appointment.
Just last week, a one-day free dental care event at the Traverse City office of Steve Niergarth drew more than 100 people in the first hour. Time allowed only about 60 to receive services. If the plan is realized, the nine clinics would serve a Medicaid population of about 28,000. Local health departments already secure both participation in a low-income dental plan and funding from their county, Chase said. The local funding does not necessarily have to be tax dollars, though.