More than 42,000 poor or disabled Idahoans lost their non-emergency dental coverage last Friday due to state budget cuts, and there’s some question about whether the state’s expected $1.7 million in annual savings really will pay off in the long run. ”Some of this stuff, if you don’t take care of it at a certain level, then it gets worse, so it can cost a lot more (in the future),” said Dr. Jack Fullwiler, a longtime Coeur d’Alene dentist and current president of the Idaho State Dental Association. Washington made a similar move six months ago, but it exempted from the cuts patients with developmental disabilities and those in long-term care. In Idaho, all adults on Medicaid will lose non-emergency dental coverage except pregnant women/Betsy Russell, Eye On Boise. More here. (SR photo: Dr. Jack Fullwiler prepares to examine Jackson Miller, 14, at his Coeur d’Alene office on Wednesday.)

Question: Anyone else agree with me that this cruel cut is pennywise and pound foolish?