Health officials blame the delay on an unavoidable federal hitch and say if the Utah Legislature permanently restores benefits this winter, the dent in coverage will be negligible.

"The money allocated for that benefit is still there for people to use," said Don Hawley, dental program manager for the Utah Department of Health. "We hope it will roll over into ongoing money next year."

But that might be rosy thinking.

Senate budget chairman Lyle Hillyard, R-Logan, said the one-time reinstatement of benefits was a temporary compromise struck with the governor.

"The committee came back with a split vote. Leadership didn't want it. But Huntsman lobbied to get it in, so as a compromise we agreed to put it in for one year," said Hillyard.

Legislative leaders are waiting to see what becomes of proposed cuts to Medicaid at the federal level that would put more pressure on states, said Hillyard. "If our contributions to Medicaid go up or demand goes up so we're really pinched for money, I don't think we'll fund dental. This is not a mandatory program. It's a nice program. But where are you going to get the money to pay for it?"

That's bad news for Medicaid recipient Lisa Parker, a single mom who has waited two years for lawmakers to restore benefits lost to recessionary budget cuts in 2002.

Parker has several cavities and at least one tooth in need of a root canal, but she has only had access to emergency dental care, such as teeth extractions and treatment for infections.

"I know there are a lot of things that can be done to save a tooth. So I refuse to have them pulled," said Parker, who is taking classes at the University of Utah in preparation for applying to nursing school. "People in the work world like to see a nice smile. What will I do if I end up losing my front teeth?"

Parker still isn't eligible for expanded dental services, such as caps, root canals or dentures. She could have gotten her cavities filled months ago; aged, blind and disabled Medicaid beneficiaries have been reimbursed for preventative services since July 1.

But she is among 23,000 adults, mostly parents, known as non-traditional Medicaid recipients whose benefits won't kick in until Oct. 1.

Their benefits are dictated by a waiver awarded to Utah by the federal government to create the Primary Care Network (PCN), which is a bare-bones medical coverage paid for by stripping dental and other benefits from people like Parker.

In order to reinstate dental coverage, Utah health officials needed federal approval to amend the waiver, which was slow in coming - hence the three-month delay.

Rick Black, also affected by the delay, isn't bothered: "My wife and I have been lucky. We don't have any cavities. We've been waiting for two years, so a little bit more won't hurt."

But low-income advocates say the snafu is further proof that PCN was a bad policy decision.

"Under the waiver, dental benefits were permanently reduced for these working parents. The state has reinstated partial dental. But they can never have full dental again," said Judi Hilman, health policy analyst for Utah Issues.

kstewart@sltrib.com