- VA Announces Expansion of "Close to Me" Cancer Program as Part of the Cancer Moonshot, Bringing Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Closer to Thousands of Veterans
- Biden-Harris Administration Releases National Strategy for Suicide Prevention and First-Ever Federal Action Plan
- Biden-Harris Administration Takes Historic Action to Increase Access to Quality Care, and Support to Families and Care Workers
- Biden Administration Sets Higher Staffing Mandates. Most Nursing Homes Don't Meet Them.
- Rural Jails Turn to Community Health Workers To Help the Newly Released Succeed
- Rural Communities Face Primary Care Physician Shortage
- Miles for Milk: How Student-Run Grocery Store Reshaped Rural Community's Food Access
- Native Americans Have Shorter Life Spans, and It's Not Just Due to Lack of Health Care
- Promotoras Play Essential Role in Connecting Farmworkers with Health Care in Rural NorCal
- Across the Country, Amish Populations Are on the Rise
- Using Medicaid to Address Young People's Mental Health Needs in School Settings
- Sunsets, Wildlife and Limited Care: Challenges of Aging in Place in Rural America
- City-Country Mortality Gap Widens amid Persistent Holes in Rural Health Care Access
- Tribal Environmental Impact Network
- Minnesota's Rural Ambulance Providers Look to State Capitol for Their Own Lifeline
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.
AIDPH LGBTQ+ Oral Health Survey 2022 Announced
The American Institute of Dental Public Health is asking oral health providers to complete a brief survey assessing knowledge, comfort, educational experience, and resource building related to LGBTQ+ oral health. The survey takes about 10 minutes to complete and participation is voluntary. Responses are confidential and anonymous.
Impact of School Sealant Programs Report Released
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published a report, “Impact of School Sealant Programs on Oral Health Among Youth and Identification of Potential Barriers to Implementation.” This is the first study to examine children’s cavity risk and school dental sealant program impact in CDC-funded states. This study found that for every four sealants placed, one cavity is prevented. Increasing access to school sealant programs could reduce cavities, especially for children at higher risk for poor oral health.