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Amador County
Overview of Findings
The key informants identified a lack of dental providers for the low-income and uninsured as the main dental health issue that Amador County faces. In addition to a lack of providers willing to accept those who are uninsured or have Medi-Cal, there are few providers who will treat young children. As a result, children are left without a “dental home” and must travel out of the county to receive care.
The challenges in providing care to the low-income and uninsured in Amador County are related to Medi-Cal reimbursements. A key informant stated that Medi-Cal reimbursements are low and the administrative workload is burdensome. Due to the lack of providers who accept Medi-Cal, staff from the Public Health Department often struggle to cover transportation costs for low-income children who need to travel up to 3 to 4 hours outside of Amador County to receive care.
Through the Amador County Department of Public Health, some pre-school children are screened and treated with fluoride varnishes by a hired dental assistant. Dental assistants also provide information to the County Health Department on children who need follow-up care. The Health Department then assists families in finding care, but does not provide direct services. Jackson Creek Dental offers the Smiles for Kids Day program, where children receive free dental care. The private dental practice opens its door for a day to conduct assessments, sealants, and cleanings to children on a first-come-first-served basis. Some children receive treatment during the visit, while others are scheduled for an appointment on another day.
Data
The following links lead to visual representations of the data collected in the surveys for this county. Maps in the 'slideshow' have accompanying text that helps explain what is visually taking place as well as comparing the results of this county's maps to the results for the rest of the region. The PDF maps have no explanation text and are only the visual image.