Dynamics of Dental Care for the Population of the Ryazan Region in COVID-19 Pandemic

INTRODUCTION: Identification of morbidity (based on requests) and the population’s need for dental care optimizes the planning and distribution of compulsory health insurance (CHI) funds between medical organizations at the regional level. However, due to a decrease in the population’s demand for medical care in the context of the new coronavirus infection (Corona Virus Disease 2019, COVID-19), the dynamics of the provision of dental care and the structure of dental morbidity taken into account in the compulsory medical insurance system, have changed. AIM: To study the structure and dynamics of the provision of dental care in the period 2018–2021 (pre-pandemic and COVID-19 pandemic period) based on the volume of dental care paid for in the compulsory medical insurance system provided to citizens of the Ryazan region (RR). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The analysis was carried out on the basis of registers of bills accepted for payment submitted by medical organizations, taking into account the results of control and expert measures. All completed cases of treatment of insured persons with dental diseases in medical organizations of the Ryazan Region for 2018–2021 were selected for study according to territorial compulsory medical insurance programs. RESULTS: In the structure of outpatient primary health care in 2021, cases of its provision in the ‘Dentistry’ profile amounted to 7.40 ± 0.10%, taking 3rd place; the total number of cases of providing medical care to patients with this pathology decreased by 5.60% compared to 2018. Despite the reduction in the volume of primary dental care, the volume of dental examinations of the population of the RR increased by 30.46%. There was also a 34.08% reduction in completed cases of treatment of chronic periodontitis (p 0.02). For the 2018–2021 period 73,049 medical and economic examinations (MEE) and 1,626 examinations of medical care quality (EMCQ) were carried out, and 1,966 violations were identified (1,316 based on the results of the MEE and 650 based on the results of the EMСQ). The vast majority of these concerned non-compliance with standards of care and clinical guidelines. CONCLUSION: The results of the study indicate a reduction in the number of cases of insured persons seeking medical care for dental diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic. Owing to the approval of Order No. 231n of the Ministry of Health of Russia of March 19, 2021, obliging medical insurance organizations to carry out control and expert measures in each medical organization in a certain amount of dental care cases accepted for payment, the number of examinations has increased, and, as a result, the identification of violations in the provision of dental care.