The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the 2025 Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters final rule, designed to enhance accessibility and reliability within the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplaces. In Pennsylvania, we use Pennie (pennie.com).

One significant aspect of the new policies is the expansion of access to health care services, particularly the inclusion of adult routine dental care as a state option. Effective January 1, 2027, states can include adult routine dental services as an essential health benefit (EHB) within their plans offered through the marketplaces. However, states can begin the EHB benchmark application process on January 1, 2025.

See the final rule here (pages 40-43).

Health literacy is important for everyone because we all need to be able to find, understand, and use health information and services. The new handout, A Way with Words: Tips for Writing Easy-to-Understand Oral Health Materials, provides ideas about words to use and to not use, tone, voice (active vs. passive), and layout. Effectively using headings and lists is also discussed, along with the best way to write sentences and paragraphs to make the text simple and clear. How to incorporate technical words, when necessary, is explained. The handout was produced by the National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center (OHRC).

Click here to view the resource.

PCOH and the Pennsylvania Dental Hygienists’ Association have developed an informational flyer to assist dental providers and school districts understand the changes made to school dental screenings with the passage of Act 55 of 2023 in December. This resource recognizes the language change between “examinations” and “screenings” as well as the different roles between Certified School Dental Hygienists (CSDH) and Public Health Dental Hygiene Practitioners (PHDHP) in fulfilling a school’s dental health program.

PCOH is excited to announce a new partnership with Certified School Nurses and the PA Association of School Nurses and Practitioners (PASNAP). This partnership will help to educate students, families, and school professionals about the importance of oral health, including the role of community water fluoridation. By collaborating with these dedicated professionals, we will be able to provide communities with knowledge and resources to support optimal oral health for all.

To learn more about PASNAP, click here.

This handout series offers tips on what dentists, dental hygienists, and medical professionals can do to improve the oral health needs of children and pregnant women and people enrolled in Head Start programs. It highlights the importance of oral health for school readiness and describes the oral health services offered by Head Start programs.

• How Dental Hygienists Can Improve Oral Health for Head Start Participants
• How Dentists Can Improve Oral Health for Head Start Participants
• How Medical Providers Can Help Improve Oral Health for Head Start Participants

The CareQuest Institute for Oral Health has released Teledentistry Regulation and Policy Guidance: A Toolkit to Promote Access and Quality Care Through Teledentistry. This document identifies primary considerations for regulators and policymakers regarding teledentistry and includes key recommendations. Model teledentistry rules within the toolkit can form a basis for discussions on how to improve the regulatory climate for teledentistry moving forward.

In Pennsylvania, there is legislation pending in the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee (HB1585) that would direct our State Board of Dentistry to develop guidelines for Pennsylvania.

The ASTDD Dental Public Health policy committee is pleased to announce the availability of a new ASTDD policy statement, Integrating Oral Health into Primary Care. They extend their appreciation to Katrina Holt, MPH, MS, RD, FAND; Katy Battani, RDH, MS; and Ruth Barzel, MA, of the National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center for their support and collaboration in the development of this document.

Click here to view the statement.

A new practice guideline developed by the American Dental Association, the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine, and the Center for Integrative Global Oral Health at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine details acute pain management strategies. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs taken alone or along with acetaminophen are recommended as first-line treatments for managing short-term dental pain in adults and adolescents aged 12 or older. Former PCOH Board Member/Board Chair Dr. Deborah Polk, University of Pittsburgh, was an author on this project.

Click here to read the practice guideline.

PCOH has added a new resource to the website, “Oral Health IS Public Health.” This resource details the connection between oral health and public health, why dentists and dental students should infuse public health in their work, and how providers can advance public health. The second page includes a redesigned look for the existing “Scholarship, Loan Repayment, and Loan Forgiveness Options for Dentists and Dental Program Students.” This is intended for dental students, newly-graduated dentists, and any other dental provider looking to become more involved in public health.

Click here to download the resource.