Astro Bug

SOCORRO, N.M. - AstroBug -- New Mexico Dentists for Medicaid Reform was founded by Dr. George Hanna.

Dr. Hanna was concerned about the future of dental care in New Mexico for Medicaid recipients as well as the reputation of Medicaid dentists in the state of New Mexico.

While fraud, waste, and abuse within the Medicaid system cannot be tolerated, the practices of many dentists, their reputations, and their families have been hurt by the bureaucratic red tape and bungling of state Medicaid officials and the unjust tactics of their enforcement arm.

These are still important issues today, particularly how Medicaid dental maintenance organizations deal with various billing issues and even payment holds.

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But due process is necessary for any provider so accused.  It is a right guaranteed by the Constitution.  This is forgotten in the blaze of media attention and its lack hurts the reputation of providers and the dental profession at large.

95% of dentists surveyed who take Medicaid patients do so for altruistic reasons—helping impoverished children and families obtain needed dental care. When they are successful and honest, they deserve to be assisted and protected for their efforts.

Our purposes are as follows:

1. Provide advocacy for dental Medicaid providers and work with legislatures and health professional organizations to bring forward legislation to balance the playing field for all Medicaid providers.
2. Bring providers' stories to the public.
3. Take on a watchdog role to expose injustice within Medicaid.
4. Provide news and updates about Medicaid reform.

The majority of the Dental Medicaid program in New Mexico is administered by only one company.