- Health Care Providers Try Novel Ways to Get Shots in Arms of Rural Residents
- New COVID-19 Cases Drop by 5% in Rural Counties While Urban Areas See a 15% Drop
- Why Lagging COVID Vaccine Rate at Rural Hospitals 'Needs to Be Fixed Now'
- HHS Announces Nearly $1 Billion from American Rescue Plan for Rural COVID-19 Response
- HHS Announces $250 Million from American Rescue Plan to Develop and Support a Community-Based Workforce to Increase COVID-19 Vaccinations in Underserved Communities
- Farm Bureau Launches Farm State of Mind Resource Directory to Support Mental Health Month
- Finding a Doctor Is Tough and Getting Tougher in Rural America
- HHS Launches New Reimbursement Program for COVID-19 Vaccine Administration Fees Not Covered by Insurance
- Top Critical Access Hospitals Announced
- 2021 National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Three Loan Repayment Programs Deadline Extended to May 27
- FCC Now Accepting Applications for Round 2 of COVID-19 Telehealth Program
- HHS Awards Over $32 Million in American Rescue Plan Funding to Expand COVID-19 Training and Support for Health Centers
- Public Inspection: CMS: Medicare Program: Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems for Acute Care Hospitals and the Long Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System and Proposed Policy Changes and Fiscal Year 2022 Rates; Quality Programs and Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program Requirements for Eligible Hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals; Proposed Changes to Medicaid Provider Enrollment; and Proposed Changes to the Medicare Shared Savings Program
- Public Inspection: CMS: Medicare Program: Modification of Limitations on Redesignation by the Medicare Geographic Classification Review Board
- Fully Vaccinated Adults 65 and Older Are 94% Less Likely to Be Hospitalized with COVID-19
Pennsylvania Community Water Fluoridation Map Launched
The Pennsylvania Coalition for Oral Health (PCOH) is excited to share an interactive community water fluoridation map for Pennsylvania. PCOH has been collaborating on this project with the University of Pittsburgh School of Dentistry and the Pittsburgh Collaboratory for Water Research, Education, & Outreach. The story map has three tabs with the first being informational. The second tab allows individuals to search for water system by typing in an address. The third tab is interactive and allows individuals to zoom in and out and to add and remove layers of information such as water system name, fluoridation status, legislative districts, municipal and county boundaries, school districts, and dental health provider shortage areas (DHPSAs). There is also a corresponding brief to go along with the map,
“In the Fight Against Tooth Decay: May the Fluoride Be With You!”
Pennsylvania Statewide Dental Access Coordination Report
The Pennsylvania Coalition for Oral Health (PCOH) is pleased to announce the March 2021 publication of “Statewide Dental Access Coordination: A Report for Pennsylvania”. With support from a Highmark Foundation planning grant, PCOH set out to learn how Pennsylvanians find dental care, what issues prevent them from finding or scheduling an appointment with a dental provider, and whether it is feasible to identify or create a single, easily accessible resource to connect Pennsylvanians in need of dental care with the providers who want to serve them. The findings are discussed and summarized in the report.
Click here to read the news release.
Click here to read the final report.
APHA Releases Statement on Oral Health Care for Pregnant Women
The American Public Health Association (APHA) released a new policy statement regarding the importance of improving oral health care access for pregnant women. Oral health is integral to overall health and a healthy pregnancy, yet less than half of pregnant women in the United States report receiving routine dental care during pregnancy. Oral diseases during pregnancy can negatively impact birth outcomes and women’s quality of life. The policy statement describes this major public health problem, along with opposing arguments, evidence-based strategies and action steps, at federal, state, and local levels.
National Coalition of Dentists for Health Equity
Dentists are often limited in expressing their views when it comes to issues of equity and workforce improvements. The new National Coalition for Dental Health Equity aims to unite dentists in support of evidence-based, high-quality, and cost-effective oral health services, including disease prevention and treatment and care delivery models. The organization’s purpose is to unite dentists who support evidence-based practices in the U.S. to advance the goal of comprehensive health equity with a specific interest in oral health equity for all.
Dental Care for Individuals Experiencing Homelessness
The National Health Care for the Homeless Council shared a new issue brief, “COVID-19 and the HCH Community: Maintaining Access to Dental Services.” The issue explore why dental services are essential to those experiencing homelessness, unique challenges experienced by those experiencing homelessness as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and recommendations for dental providers to improve access to care and provide services to those experiencing homelessness.
New Report Released from Gerontological Society of America
The Gerontological Society of America released a new resource outlining the COVID-19 pandemic-driven disruption in oral health for older adults. The report highlights opportunities to improve oral health for people in long-term care settings and discusses the greater reliance on mobile dentistry in the future.
Introducing the CareQuest Institute for Oral Health
On March 29th, the DentaQuest Partnership for Oral Health Advancement became part of a new organization called the CareQuest Institute for Oral Health.
CareQuest Institute is a nonprofit committed to building a future in which equitable systems promote excellent health, allowing people everywhere to reach their full potential. This next evolution of work amplifies and expands upon the programming, resources, and strengths of past organizations, including the DentaQuest Partnership, DentaQuest Foundation, and DentaQuest Institute.
As CareQuest Institute, the more robust portfolio reaches across grantmaking, research, health improvement programs, policy and advocacy, and education as well as dental benefits, care delivery, and innovation advancements designed to improve the oral health system. As a new organization, they can broaden their impact and move faster together toward a system designed for everyone.
CDC Initiative Creates New Water Fluoridation Technology
A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) funded research initiative offers access to optimally fluoridated water for up to 19 million people in the U.S. for the first time. The new fluoridation method is designed to dissolve in a small amount of water, much like the chlorine tablets used in swimming pools. This tablet system could allow nearly 32,000 small public utilities – often in underserved, rural areas – to contribute to the national Healthy People goal of providing access to fluoridated water to 77.1% of the U.S. population by 2030. The new system is still pending approval in Pennsylvania.
New Technology – Water Fluoridation Tablets
Technology funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention could give 19 million people in the U.S. access to optimally fluoridated water for the first time. The system uses a fluoride tablet that dissolves in water, similar to how chlorine tablets work for swimming pools. Learn more.
OHRC Oral Health Resource Bulletin Released
The National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center (OHRC) released the latest issue of the “Oral Health Resource Bulletin,” a periodic publication designed to stimulate thinking and creativity within the maternal and child health community by providing information about selected materials of interest. This bulletin features materials on the COVID-19 pandemic, surveillance, policy, professional education and practice, program development, public awareness and education, and systems integration.