249 - Comparison of Rate Keeping Appointments Between Medicaid and Non-Medicaid Patients

Purpose: The aim of the study is to assess the appointment rates between pediatric patients under the age of 22 with MassHealth (Medicaid), private insurance, self-pay and dual insurance at TUSDM. Patients will be categorized as Medicaid, non-Medicaid, self-pay, and dual insurance. Appointment categories are defined as: active, cancelled and failed. This will be a 5-year retrospective study. Data will be collected from axiUm of all total appointments at Tufts Pediatric Dentistry Clinic. Patients who arrive to their scheduled appointment times will make up the control group. Different factors can be collected and statistically analyzed: Patient age (at time of visit) and time of scheduled appointment.

Results: Information from 6,838 subjects was collected: 4,950 subjects had active appointments, 860 subjects had cancelled appointments, and 1,028 subjects had failed appointments. The mean age for patients was 6 ± 4.435 years old (range: 0-19 years). There is a statistically significant association between patients’ appointment attendance and patients’ dental insurance (p < 0.001) as well as between appointment time and appointment status (p = 0.03) is a statistically significant difference in mean age at appointment between active and cancelled appointments as well as between active and failed appointments (p < 0.001).

Conclusions: Individuals with insurance tend to show up to their appointments while those who are self-pay tend to fail their appointments.