Dentists attack Mayor Bloomberg's plan to cut clinics
Thursday, November 20th 2008, 8:55 PM
New York dentists charged Thursday that Mayor Bloomberg's plan to close dental clinics will harm the city's neediest children.
Health Commissioner Thomas Frieden defended the move, arguing poor kids can get free dental care through Medicaid.
"Compared with the other options, we see this as the least bad," Frieden said.
Those options include a $5 million anti-smoking advertising campaign Frieden said saves lives.
The city plans to shut 44 free dental clinics come spring, which officials estimate will save $2.5 million.
The New York State Dental Association fears 17,000 children who use the clinics will skip check-ups instead of finding a Medicaid program.
Stephen Gold, president of NYSDA, said the plan "exhibits a lack of understanding of the impact of dental disease on the health of New Yorkers and displays a disregard for the city's most vulnerable population who most need and benefit from access to these programs."
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