- Bird Flu Is Racing Through Farms, but Northwest States Are Rarely Testing Workers
- After Helene, Clinician Teams Brought Critical Care To Isolated WNC Communities
- The Biden-Harris Administration Supports Rural Health Care
- Biden-Harris Administration Announces $52 Million Investment for Health Centers to Provide Care for People Reentering the Community after Incarceration
- On National Rural Health Day, Reps. Sewell and Miller Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Support Rural Hospitals
- Terri Sewell Cosponsors Bill Reauthoring Program to Support Rural Hospitals
- HRSA: Inclusion of Terrain Factors in the Definition of Rural Area for Federal Office of Rural Health Policy Grants
- Celebrating National Rural Health Day
- DEA, HHS: Third Temporary Extension of COVID-19 Telemedicine Flexibilities for Prescription of Controlled Medications
- Talking Rural Health Care with U of M
- Public Inspection: DEA, HHS: Third Temporary Extension of COVID-19 Telemedicine Flexibilities for Prescription of Controlled Medications
- CDC Presents a Five-Year Plan for Rural Healthcare
- Kansas Faith Leaders 'Well Positioned' To Help Fill Mental Health Care Gaps in Rural Areas
- The CDC Wants More Kansas Farm Workers to Get Their Flu Shots This Season
- Study: Rural Residents More Likely to Struggle With Medical Debt
FDA Launches Vaping Prevention & Education Resource Center
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Tobacco Products announced the launch of their new Vaping Prevention and Education Resource Center. The online resource center provides science-based, standards-mapped materials that can be used to help middle and high school students understand the dangers associated with vaping and nicotine addiction.
National Dental Group Works to Improve Access for Patients with Disabilities
The American Dental Association (ADA) shared several ideas about how Congress can ensure greater health outcomes for people with disabilities by providing accommodations in health care settings and further developing a health care workforce that understands the needs of people with disabilities. The ADA also urged Congress to provide grants for the training and continuing education of dentists on treating patients with disabilities to dental schools, dental residency and fellowship programs, and dental associations.
Pennsylvania Publishes Updates to the Dental Fee Schedule
The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, Office of Medical Assistance Programs, has published an updated dental fee schedule effective August 29, 2022. Please review carefully as there are new codes that have been added to the schedule. Each provider should work with their managed care contracts
to ensure proper payment.
Mental Health in Dental Professionals: The Pandemic & Beyond
The American Dental Association (ADA) and the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) have been conducting ongoing research to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on dentists and dental hygienists. Join the presenters on September 29th at 7 pm ET to discuss the findings of their study and the mental health challenges facing the oral health professional community.
Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Foundation Offers Access to Care Grants
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) Foundation is awarding Access to Care Grants of up to $20,000 to support community-based initiatives that provide dental care and ultimately serve as a dental home to underserved and limited access children up to age 18. Eligible applicants include, but are not limited to, nonprofit organizations, local health jurisdictions, county health departments, hospitals and clinics, state government agencies, colleges and schools of dentistry or medicine, and national, state, and local dental societies. The application deadline is October 3rd.
Community Water Fluoridation: First Ever Randomized Controlled Trial
The first ever randomized controlled trial (RCT) on suboptimal and optimally fluoridated water is underway. Dr. Gary Slade from the University of North Carolina is conducting the trial based on two North Carolina communities.
New Report: Higher Oral Cancer Prevalence Among Medicaid Enrollees
A new journal article, co-authored by the CareQuest Institute for Oral Health, concludes that Medicaid enrollees experience higher oral cancer and throat cancer incidence, prevalence, and mortality compared with commercially insured adults. The article is based on a study that compared all cases and new cases of oral and throat cancers among approximately 38,000 Medicaid enrollees and approximately 27,000 individuals with commercial medical insurance. Researchers found that total cancer treatment costs were higher for those with commercial insurance and that cases of oral and throat cancers were lower among adults who had seen a dentist within the prior year.
Promoting Dental Infection Control Awareness Month
September is Dental Infection Control Awareness Month and the theme for 2022 is “Staying in the Know Together.” This annual observance is celebrated by the Organization for Safety, Asepsis, and Prevention (OSAP) to help clinicians and infection control coordinators promote a safe, professional environment and encourage patient dialogue. Providers have the opportunity to demonstrate commitment to infection prevention and patient safety. A social media toolkit is available on the OSAP website.
Click here to learn more.
Click here to download the toolkit.
Advancing Anti-Racism in Dentistry
The CareQuest Institute for Oral Health recently published “Actions You Can Take to Advance Anti-Racism in Dentistry.” Racism is a public health epidemic. Across the US, there are barriers to care that have blocked people of color from receiving adequate health care for years. A recent webinar brought oral health leaders together to focus on the topic and make plans to break down barriers moving forward, including seven actions to help advance anti-racism.
Click here to read the blog.
Click here to watch the webinar recording.
PA Oral Health Coalition Launches New CEU Portal, Courses
The PA Coalition for Oral Health (PCOH) is excited to launch a new and improved online course portal. Pennsylvania dental providers can earn up to 8.5 CEUs by taking the courses in the portal. The new portal allows users to register an account to keep track of completed courses, accompanying course resources, and earned CEU certificates. Be sure to check out our two new courses below. Click here to visit the course portal.
New Course Added: Increasing Parental Acceptance of HPV Vaccination: An Introduction for Dental Professionals
Check out this new course offered by PCOH in partnership with Temple University Harrisburg Campus and the Pennsylvania Cancer Coalition and funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This course prepares dental professionals to become cancer prevention allies by equipping them to discuss human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination with the parents/caregivers of pediatric patients. There is 1 CEU available for dental providers. Click here to take the course.
New Course Added: Fred Rogers, the S-word, and Just Being You
Did you miss the live webinar on May 23rd? You can now take the course on the portal. This course provides a provocative assessment of the paradigm for personalized care and the impact it can have on oral health for individuals with disabilities. This course is offered by PCOH in partnership with Achieva and Dental Medicine Consulting and funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). There is 1 CEU available for dental providers. Click here to take the course.