- 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?
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.
Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact: Your Input is Needed!
The National Center for Interstate Compacts within the Council of State Governments shared a resource on the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact, a project funded by the Department of Defense. The Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact is an interstate occupational licensure compact, which is a constitutionally authorized, legally binding, and legislatively enacted contract among states. The compact will enable licensed dental providers to practice in all states participating in the compact, rather then requiring providers to get individual licenses in each state. Interstate compacts already exist for emergency medical service officials, physical therapists, and other medical professionals.
Please review the draft interstate compact and submit comments via the survey.
Click here for more information.
Click here to review the draft.
Click here to submit comments.
Funding Opportunity: Pennsylvania Oral Health Plan Mini-Grants
PCOH is requesting proposals for the 2022-2023 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 Pennsylvania Oral Health Plan, as well as to advance the oral health of all Pennsylvanians. Requests may not exceed $4,000 with applications due by September 28 at 5:00 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 Preventative 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.
Oral Health In Rural Pennsylvania: Why Is It Such a Problem?
On August 3, the Pennsylvania Rural Health Association held a webinar on oral health in rural Pennsylvania as part of its Special Topics in Rural Health 2022 Webinar Series hosted by Rep. Kathy Rapp (R-PA 65th District) and Sen. Michele Brooks (R-PA 50th District). Helen Hawkey, Executive Director of the PA Coalition for Oral Health, gave an in-depth overview of oral health access and workforce in rural Pennsylvania and provided compelling statistics and maps to illustrate the disparities in oral health in rural areas of the state.
See below for links to the presentation and the recording.
Presentation: Oral Health in Rural Pennsylvania. 8.3.22
Recording: Oral Health In Rural Pennsylvania