[LadyBugz]

Filling out paperwork, we have to say upfront which doctor and dentist the children will use. The doctor and dentist must accept Medicaid. We've found a doc, but can't find a dentist. Is there a central registry somewhere we can look?

Also, will the children be in a certain network of Medicaid already? Must we stay in that network?

Any other info I need to know about Medicaid?

[TexasJingles]

There is an 800 number for medicaid dental providers. I do not have it. Perhaps someone else does and will respond.

Where are you in the state?

You can also ask your agency.

I stumbled across the one we use. I needed a dentist and couldn't get into the CPS clinic's (you can check there too). I called a friends dentist and told them I had foster children. They were so nice that they almost took the kids for nothing (they didn't have a medicaid number). Instead the dentist referred me to his college friend who has a huge clinic that is wonderful. So, you can call around and ask as well.

Medicaid is not an HMO. You take the kids to the doctor of your choice. As long as they take medicaid, and they're taking new patients, no problem. You do not have to take them to where they are already going. We used the CPS clinic because it was convienent. Now that we've adopted, well, I've had a difficult time.

That's one thing everyone needs to know. Adding the adoptive child(ren) to your private insurance (at work) CAN have problems with medicaid. If you find a doctor that takes both, then you're ok. However, ask your therapist (if any) before adding them to private insurance. Our therapist don't take private insurance and couldn't get medicaid to pay if private didn't pay 1st. Long story, different thread.

[TexasJingles]

Here's some info a friend gave me about dentist:

"The number they gave me to find a pediatric dentist was 877-847-8377".

This is from crikkit, who is also in Texas.

[crikkit]

Ah, TexasJingles already beat me to it! I was given that number when I called the Medicaid hotline to get names of pediatricians in my area who take medicaid. They gave me the 877 number TexasJingles mentioned, and said that's the number for TX Health Steps, which can refer you to a pediatric dentist. I haven't tried it yet myself (still in PRIDE classes), so I'd be interested to know if it works out. Good luck!

[gidgetelizabeth]

I don't know if all of Texas has gone to managed care or not but my area has. We have a primary care pedi; we can't just "pick" a pedi who takes medicaid and new patients and go there.