Periodontal treatment was associated with reductions in overall health care costs among individuals with diabetes, with greater savings observed among those with Medicaid coverage.

Background

Individuals with diabetes are at an increased risk of developing periodontal (gum) disease, which is a frequent complication of diabetes. Treatment of periodontal disease can improve hemoglobin A1c levels, which may lead to better disease management. This study compared health care costs among Medicaid and commercially insured adults with diabetes who did and did not receive periodontal treatment, focusing on overall, outpatient, inpatient, and drug costs.

Findings

This observational study analyzed claims data from more than 670,000 adults across Medicaid and commercial insurance populations, using propensity score matching to compare groups. Among Medicaid patients, periodontal treatment was associated with a 14% decrease in overall health care costs, a 12% decrease in outpatient health care costs, and a 33% decrease in inpatient medical care costs. Similar decreases were observed for patients with commercial insurance, although inpatient costs did not differ significantly. Prescription drug costs increased slightly for Medicaid patients, though this difference was not statistically significant, while drug costs decreased in the commercial insurance group.

Program/Policy Takeaways

Periodontal treatment may decrease overall health care costs for individuals with diabetes. State policymakers can consider including comprehensive dental benefits, particularly in Medicaid, to improve health outcomes and lower medical spending.