Philanthropist, IHC Meet Dental Care Need

None by KCPW

$2 Million Gift Fills Legislature's Shortfall

(KCPW News) Wealthy businessman and philanthropist James Sorenson is the anonymous donor who pledged to fill the Medicaid funding gap left by the State Legislature. Sorenson offered one-million dollars if Governor Huntsman could raise matching funds to pay for emergency dental services for the blind, aged and disabled. Intermountain Healthcare says it will make that match, resulting in $2 million that will ensure 40,000 of the most needy Utahns will not go without dental care this year.

Republican Senate and House leaders joined in the announcement, pledging to find a better way to handle dental needs for Medicaid in the future and calling on Congress to stop cutting funds for state health programs. The combined $2 million gift will result in a matching fund of $4.8 million dollars from the federal government for dental services and comes just in time for existing funds to run out on July 1st.

Email to a friendPosted in KCPW Newsroom. Copyright 2008 KCPW