- CMS: Medicare Program; Implementation of Prior Authorization for Select Services for the Wasteful and Inappropriate Services Reduction (WISeR) Model
- Public Inspection: CMS: Medicare Program: Implementation of Prior Authorization for Select Services for the Wasteful and Inappropriate Services Reduction Model
- CMS: Secretarial Comments on the CBE's (Battelle Memorial Institute) 2024 Activities: Report to Congress and the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services
- HHS: Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: Marketplace Integrity and Affordability
- HRSA Announces Action to Lower Out-of-Pocket Costs for Life-Saving Medications at Health Centers Nationwide
- Public Inspection: HHS: Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: Marketplace Integrity and Affordability
- Increased Risk of Cyber Threats Against Healthcare and Public Health Sector
- Eight Hospitals Selected for First Cohort of Rural Hospital Stabilization Program
- Announcing the 2030 Census Disclosure Avoidance Research Program
- CMS: Medicare Program; Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems for Acute Care Hospitals and the Long-Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System and Policy Changes and Fiscal Year 2026 Rates; Requirements for Quality Programs; and Other Policy Changes; Correction
- CMS: Medicare Program; Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems for Acute Care Hospitals and the Long-Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System and Policy Changes and Fiscal Year 2026 Rates; Requirements for Quality Programs; and Other Policy Changes; Correction
- CMS: Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Contract Year 2026 Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage Program, Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program, Medicare Cost Plan Program, and Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly; Correction
- CMS: Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Contract Year 2026 Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage Program, Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program, Medicare Cost Plan Program, and Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly; Correction
- CMS: Medicare Program; Prospective Payment System and Consolidated Billing for Skilled Nursing Facilities; Updates to the Quality Reporting Program for Federal Fiscal Year 2026
- CMS: Medicare Program; FY 2026 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update and Hospice Quality Reporting Program Requirements
Crest and Oral-B Launch Communications Campaign
Crest and Oral-B have launched their latest #ClosingAmericasSmileGap campaign focusing on oral care supplies for back-to-school for students. For every Crest or Oral-B product purchased from August 1st to September 30th, Crest and Oral-B will donate oral care supplies to a child in need.
To underscore the critical need for oral healthcare among these communities, Crest and Oral-B have released a “U.S. Kids’ Oral Health Report Card” that sheds light on the shocking discrepancies in access, affordability, and education between low and high-income families in the U.S.
Click here for more information.
Click here to view the report card.
Funding Opportunity! Pennsylvania Oral Health Plan Mini-Grants
PCOH is requesting proposals for the 2023-2024 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 by September 29th at 5 pm.
Click here to view the guidelines.
Click here to apply.
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 Preventive 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.
How Dental Health Affects Overall Health at Every Age
The CareQuest Institute for Oral Health released a new infographic and video summarizing the connection between dental health and overall health. The resources cover the specific connections during pregnancy/postpartum, childhood, adolescence, young adulthood, middle age, and older adulthood.
Click here to view the infographic.
Click here to watch the video.
Oral Health Equity Research Award Funding Opportunity Announced
The American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research and the Delta Dental Institute are now accepting applications for the second annual Oral Health Equity Research Award. This award supports research that advances recommendations for greater oral health equity in populations that lack access to dental care or improves oral health literacy for underserved populations. Submissions must represent original research that addresses social determinants of health and oral health disparities, and promotes oral health equity in the areas of access to care or oral health literacy. Two grants will be awarded at $25,000 each. Applications are due before October 17.
New Report: Addressing the Oral Health Needs of Hispanics in the U.S.
The Hispanic Dental Association and CareQuest Institute for Oral Health released a new report, “Addressing the Oral Health Needs of Hispanics in the U.S.,” which explores the oral health status, dental needs, utilization of dental services, and workforce. The report found that higher percentages of gum disease and tooth loss were reported among Hispanic people compared with other racial groups, and Hispanic children ages 6 to 11 had more decayed and filled teeth than others in that age group. The report also found that Hispanic dentists only represent 6% of the U.S. dentist workforce.
Just Released! Results from 2022 Pennsylvania Dental Assistant Survey
PCOH recently completed the “2022 PA Dental Assistant Survey” and created a resource to share the results. Dental assistants provide a key role in dental offices and health care settings. Like other health care and dental professionals, dental assistants have been affected by the rise in workforce challenges in recent years.
In 2022, PCOH sought to understand the state of dental assistants in Pennsylvania through disseminating a survey to dental assistants across the commonwealth. The survey was shared with dental assistants who had passed the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) between 1982-2021.
The findings of this survey outline next steps for recruitment and retention of Pennsylvania dental assistants.
Calling All Western Pennsylvania Providers: Your Help is Needed!
Are you a provider in Western Pennsylvania? Remote Area Medical® (RAM) needs your help at the upcoming clinic in Butler on November 11 and 12. The clinic will offer free dental care to underserved and uninsured individuals in the area. Volunteers are still needed to join in providing much-needed dental care to the community. Signing up to volunteer is simple – visit this link, select “Volunteer” at the top right of the page, and select “USA: Pennsylvania” and “Butler” when registering. You can also check out a video about volunteering for the upcoming Butler clinic.
Click here to watch the video.
Click here to view the volunteer flyer.
Click here for more information.
Oral Health Kids Resource Now Available in Swahili
Good news! The popular resource, “What Should Kids Drink” is now available in Swahili on the PCOH Request Materials Page!
This resource, created with the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, is intended to help parents and guardians understand the amount of water, milk, and juice that is appropriate for young children from birth to age 5. Please note this resource has previously been translated to Spanish as well. You can order this resource and more on the PCOH Request Materials Page.
Click here to view the resource.
Click here to visit the Request Materials Page.
Community Catalyst Pushes for Expanded Dental Coverage
Community Catalyst submitted a letter to the Biden Administration urging them to address the gaps and inconsistences in the Affordable Care Act’s essential health benefits. Community Catalyst and 50 other groups, including the PA Coalition for Oral Health, signed on to the letter, which also called on the Health and Human Services and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid to adopt several health care services into the Essential Health Benefits framework, including oral health care.
Click here to read the press release.
Click here to read the letter.
Non-Invasive Caries Therapy Guide Released
The CareQuest Institute for Oral Health published the “CareQuest Non-Invasive Caries Therapy Guide,” an illustrated manual of tips and tricks on how to perform evidence-based techniques to improve oral health for all. The goals of the guide are to increase access to care by decreasing resilience on invasive dentistry, transform the oral health workforce by empowering non-dentists to manage dental caries, improve clinical outcomes, and lower barriers to adopting evidence-based techniques.