- Telehealth Study Recruiting Veterans Now
- USDA Delivers Immediate Relief to Farmers, Ranchers and Rural Communities Impacted by Recent Disasters
- Submit Nominations for Partnership for Quality Measurement (PQM) Committees
- Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation of the Medicare Program (Executive Order 14192) - Request for Information
- Dr. Mehmet Oz Shares Vision for CMS
- CMS Refocuses on its Core Mission and Preserving the State-Federal Medicaid Partnership
- Social Factors Help Explain Worse Cardiovascular Health among Adults in Rural Vs. Urban Communities
- Reducing Barriers to Participation in Population-Based Total Cost of Care (PB-TCOC) Models and Supporting Primary and Specialty Care Transformation: Request for Input
- Secretary Kennedy Renews Public Health Emergency Declaration to Address National Opioid Crisis
- Secretary Kennedy Renews Public Health Emergency Declaration to Address National Opioid Crisis
- 2025 Marketplace Integrity and Affordability Proposed Rule
- Rural America Faces Growing Shortage of Eye Surgeons
- NRHA Continues Partnership to Advance Rural Oral Health
- Comments Requested on Mobile Crisis Team Services: An Implementation Toolkit Draft
- Q&A: What Are the Challenges and Opportunities of Small-Town Philanthropy?
Implications of COVID-19 on Safety-Net Provider Oral Health Services
The Oral Health Workforce Research Center (OHWRC) published a new report, “Implications of COVID-19 on Safety-Net Oral Health Services.” The report examines the COVID-19 pandemic impacts on federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) and other safety-net dental providers, including those that offer oral health services through mobile and portable programs.
Compendium Released on Best Practice Approaches for Treating Veterans
The National Network for Oral Health Access (NNOHA) and the American Institute for Dental Public Health (AIDPH) released “A Compendium of Veteran Oral Health Best, Promising, and Emerging Practice Approaches.” This guide describes strategies to engage and serve veterans in the community for oral health care.
Pennsylvania Department of Health Seeks Oral Health Plan Advisory Group Nominations
The Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) is accepting nominations and applications of dynamic oral health stakeholders to represent one of the nine sectors listed in the Pennsylvania Oral Health Plan 2020-2030 to serve on the Pennsylvania Oral Health Plan Advisory Group (OHPAG).
To nominate a candidate, or yourself, for the OHPAG, please download the application, complete, and send it along with a resume and/or CV to janmille@pa.gov.
The application deadline is June 5th, 2023. Selected members will be notified via email in July 2023. If you or your organization would like to endorse someone, please send an email to include with the person’s nomination. Additional information can be found at the links below.
Click here to download the nomination form.
Click here to download the group guidelines.
ADA Health Policy Institute Releases Dental Workforce Dashboard
The American Dental Association Health Policy Institute now has dentist demographic data available in an interactive dashboard format. The data ranges from 2001 to 2022. The dashboard allows users to visualize demographic data by age, race, ethnicity, gender, and state. It is recommended to use the dashboard on a large screen for the best experience.
CMS Launches Updated Strategic Plan Website
CMS updated its Strategic Plan page to include a new Cross Cutting Initiative (CCI): Oral Health.
Through this CCI, CMS will implement policy changes and consider opportunities through existing authorities to expand access to oral health coverage.
CMS updated the Health Equity Pillar fact sheet that details key actions undertaken by CMS Centers and Offices to advance health equity.
Finally, CMS has added a new fact sheet to the strategy page with updates to the Integrating the 3Ms (Medicare, Medicaid and Marketplace) CCI. The fact sheet outlines how CMS has begun to develop approaches to promote alignment and consistency across programs, promoting seamless continuity of care, including experiences with health care providers and health coverage for people served by the 3 Ms.
Accepting Nominations: PA Oral Health Awards!
The PA Coalition for Oral Health (PCOH) is accepting nominations for the 2023 PA Oral Health Champion Awards.
Awardees will be selected by the Board of Directors of PCOH, upon recommendation of the Summit Committee, and are based on notable work on oral health progress in Pennsylvania. Awardees will have the option to accept their awards in-person at the 2023 PA Oral Health Summit on November 17th or virtually at a later date. All nominations must be submitted by July 7th at 5 pm.
Report Addresses Oral Health Needs of Hispanics in the U.S.
The Hispanic Dental Association and the CareQuest Institute for Oral Health released a white paper identifying key policies to improve oral health and reduce inequalities among Hispanics in the United States. The report also analyzes the use of dental services and evaluates Hispanic representation within the dental workforce.
Show Your Appreciation to Pennsylvania Water Operators!
When was the last time you thanked the water operators in your community for delivering safe water to your home? Tap water is something that many take for granted and we don’t often think of who was involved in making that happen. Regardless of the fluoridation status of your water system, water operators do an essential job of providing you and your family with safe drinking water.
PCOH is encouraging groups to thank water systems for delivering safe drinking water to homes, schools, restaurants, and businesses.
The “Water Operator Thank You Campaign” would be an ideal activity for community groups such as boards, homeowner associations, rotary clubs, church and youth groups, scouts, 4-H chapters, parent-teacher associations, sports teams, health clubs, and recreational leagues. If you are interested in participating, PCOH will provide you with blank thank you notes, envelopes, and a prepaid envelope to return your notes back to us. From there, we will address your note and send it on to your water system. Thank you for taking the time to show your appreciation for our PA water operators!
Click here for more information.
Click here to request thank you campaign materials.
New Brief Released: Pediatric Oral Health in Rural America
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Research and Policy Center published a new brief, “Hidden Crisis: Pediatric Oral Health in Rural America.” The brief brings to light some of the challenges faced by children and families accessing dental care. It proposes actions that hold promise for improving the oral health of America’s rural children, recognizing that the most effective approaches will be structured around the unique assets and needs of each community and involve many
stakeholders working together.
Study Links Periodontal Treatment to Lower Health Care Costs
A study published the Journal of the American Dental Association showed a link between periodontal treatment and lower health care costs for people with diabetes. The study also found that periodontal treatment was associated with reduced outpatient costs among people with commercial insurance or Medicaid.