- New RSV Drug Delivers Promising Results in Alaska's Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta
- Lack of Civic Infrastructure Drives Rural Health Disparities
- VA: Solicitation of Nomination for Appointment to the Veterans' Rural Health Advisory Committee
- EOP: National Rural Health Day, 2024
- Distance, Workforce Shortages Complicate Mental Health Access in Rural Nevada Communities
- 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
- 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
- On National Rural Health Day, Reps. Sewell and Miller Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Support Rural Hospitals
- DEA, HHS: Third Temporary Extension of COVID-19 Telemedicine Flexibilities for Prescription of Controlled Medications
- Celebrating National Rural Health Day
- CDC Presents a Five-Year Plan for Rural Healthcare
New Federal Maternal and Child Health-Oral Health Webpage Launched
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) introduced a new webpage featuring program priorities and investments in oral health. Oral health is vital to the health and well-being of pregnant individuals, children, adolescents, young adults, and families. To improve oral health, MCHB aims to increase access to preventive services, foster and integrated workforce, and achieve health equity.
Adult Medicaid Issue Brief Published
Community Catalyst, the American Dental Association (ADA) Health Policy Institute, (HPI) and Families USA published an issue brief on the current landscape of dental coverage for Medicaid-enrolled adults. “Making the Case for Dental Coverage for Adults in All State Medicaid Programs” illustrates how comprehensive dental coverage is a major driver of access to dental care and improved oral health for Medicaid-enrolled adults. The authors discuss federal policy options to ensure that all states offer adequate adult dental coverage in Medicaid that could reduce cost barriers and improve access to dental care for adults across the United States.
Seniors Are Spending a Lot Out of Pocket on Dental
About 31.3 million Medicare beneficiaries (53%) paid an average of $874 out-of-pocket for dental services in 2018, a new analysis from Kaiser Family Foundation shows. About 4.6 million beneficiaries (8%) had average out-of-pocket spending on hearing care of about $914, while 30.2 million Medicare beneficiaries utilized vision services and had an average out-of-pocket expense of $230. Democrats’ reconciliation bill would expand Medicare to cover dental, vision and hearing benefits. Joe Hollander, CEO of Scranton Primary Health Care Center, testified recently during a congressional hearing on the subjec.
Infographic Focuses on Oral Health & Health Equity
The National Institute for Health Care Management (NIHCM) Foundation created an infographic focusing on the state of oral health disparities in the United States. The infographic highlights the challenges to achieving optimal oral health and identifies opportunities for advancing health equity moving forward.
Free Dental Services to be Offered at MOM-n-PA in Philadelphia
The Mission of Mercy event at Maurice H. Kornberg School of Dentistry at Temple University in Philadelphia is just days away! Doors open at 6 am on September 24th and 25th.There are no eligibility or income requirements for patients, treatment will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. The number of patients seen will be limited to 400 patients per day. Dental services for children and adults include examinations, fillings, cleanings, extractions, root canal treatments, and limited denture care. Volunteers will also screen for HbA1C, diabetes, and high blood pressure.
Integrating Oral Health Care into Primary Care
The National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center and the National Network for Oral Health Access supported the Partnership for Integrating Oral Health Care into Primary Care (PIOHCPC) project. The purpose of the project was to improve access to oral health care by integrating the interprofessional oral health core clinical competencies into primary care. The final report provides information about the implementation of the PIOHCPC project, details project findings and strategies to integrate oral health care into primary care, and highlights technical activities provided to and feedback received from project teams.
Oral Health Care for People with Special Health Care Needs
The Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors (ASTDD) released a report, Best Practice Approach: Oral Health Care of People with Special Health Care Needs (SHCN). This report describes a public health strategy and uses practice examples to illustrate successful implementation for providing care to these individuals who often have complex medical and behavioral issues that require specialized training and the right setting to provide this care.
Pennsylvania Oral Health Plan Mini-Grant Program Announced
PCOH is requesting proposals for the 2021-2022 Oral Health Plan Mini-Grant Program. The purpose of this program is to facilitate the implementation of the goals and recommendations of the 2020-2030 PA Oral Health Plan, as well as to advance the oral health of all Pennsylvanians. Requests may not exceed $4,000.
Applications are due September 30th.
Click here to view the guidelines.
Funding for this project is through the Pennsylvania Department of Health through Centers for Disease and Prevention (CDC) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under the Preventative Health and Health Services Block Grant. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by CDC, HHS or the U.S. Government.
Talking to Youth and Young Adults to Prevent E-Cigarette Use
A new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) article looks at the issue of youth e-cigarette use. About 1 in 5 high school students and 1 in 20 middle school students reported using e-cigarettes in 2020. Any tobacco use by youth and young adults, including e-cigarettes, is unsafe. Most e-cigarette products sold contain nicotine, which is the same addictive drug found in other tobacco products, including cigarettes and cigars. The nicotine content information on e-cigarette packaging is often misleading or inaccurate. This resource provides information about e-cigarette products and gives examples of what they can look like.
Oral Health Access Teledentistry User’s Guide
The National Network for Oral Health Access (NNOHA) released a new “Oral Health Access Teledentistry User’s Guide.” Teledentistry is an emerging trend to help improve access to oral health care, improve the dental care delivery system, and lower costs. NNOHA has worked with health centers since Spring 2020 to develop and test a variety of strategies to deliver dental services via synchronous teledentistry. This guide gives an overview of teledentistry, describes its use in health center dental programs, and includes practical tools for implementing teledentistry.