- 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?
Oral Health Workforce Report Released by Pennsylvania Oral Health Coalition
PCOH has released a workforce report that finds a major decrease in dental workforce, including a staggering decrease in dental assistants. The “Access to Oral Health Workforce Report” uncovers that many Pennsylvania counties are struggling to maintain recommended worker levels. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, rural areas and Medicaid provider networks have seen the sharpest reductions in care providers. This will result in limited access and delayed care for Pennsylvanians, especially those in rural communities. The report also evaluates education and training programs, state tax and local income losses, the impact of COVID-19 relief programs, and dental – Health Professional Shortage Areas (d-HPSAs).
Register Now! Communities in Crisis: Exploring the PA Oral Health Workforce Shortages
PCOH is set to release a workforce report that explores the decline in the size of dental workforce and what it means for Pennsylvanians. Join PCOH staff, partners, and consultants on August 1st at 12 pm ET as we break down the findings as well as further implications. The report and recording will be shared after the webinar. Registration is required.
Pennsylvania Medicaid Changes Coming. Help Spread the Word, Access Oral Health Resources
PCOH is distributing resources for Medicaid HealthChoices members and dental providers to explain the upcoming changes to the HealthChoices program. Pennsylvania is updating the contracts they have with insurance/health plans that serve PA Medicaid members and some of the current plans that providers may participate with will no longer be available in certain regions. Changes go into effect on September 1, 2022.
Please share the resources with your networks to ensure members and providers understand the upcoming changes. The member resource will also be available in Spanish.
Click here to request printed resources.
Click here for the member resource.
Click here for the provider resource.
Academy of Pediatrics Solicits Input into Oral Health Direction
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Section on Oral Health is asking stakeholders to complete a survey on the effectiveness of oral health initiatives/Campaign for Dental Health, priorities for future directions, and resources needed to improve management of oral health promotion, disease prevention, and early childhood caries. The AAP seeks to strengthen oral health initiatives:
- In the wake of the pandemic.
- As part of the AAP Equity Agenda
- Because children continue to see a pediatric or primary care provider or other trusted community member long before they see a dental professional and during the years in which prevention of dental disease is optimal.
The survey deadline is July 15.
Pennsylvania Oral Health Coalition Collecting Info on Medicaid Credentialing Issues
Many dental providers and organizations are reporting having trouble getting their providers credentialed with the Pennsylvania Medicaid Managed Care Organizations. We are hoping to lift this up with the Department of Human Services, and would appreciate connecting with any Pennsylvania providers that have experienced significant delays.
Add Your Voice! Oral Health Survey for Pennsylvania Veterans Released
PCOH is working with a dental public health resident to collect information on veterans’ knowledge and use of their oral health benefits. Please share with our Pennsylvania veterans and encourage them to the take the survey.
Click here to take the survey.
Click here to download the flyer.
Pennsylvania Releases Teledentistry Bulletin
The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) has published a new bulletin expanding the reach of teledentistry services in Pennsylvania. Coverage has been added for preventive services, and guidelines have been established for both Federally Qualified Health Centers/Rural Health Clinics, and dentists enrolled in the Medical Assistance Program.
Latest Dental Health Policy Insitute Workforce Poll Results Released
The American Dental Association Health Policy Institute (HPI) released the latest data from their Economic Outlook and Emerging Issues in Dentistry poll conducted between May 17-22, 2022. The data shed new light on the impact the dental staff shortage is having on practices across the country. It focuses on recruitment needs, position vacancies, and economic confidence. Core questions are also available in a new, interactive state dashboard.
Click here for more information and to check out the dashboard.
Oral Health/Rural Health Study Commissioned in Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania Legislative Budget and Finance Committee (LBFC) is a bipartisan, bicameral legislative service agency consisting of 12 members of the General Assembly. The LBFC is authorized to conduct a wide range of research activities pertaining to the operation and performance of state-funded programs and agencies. The Pennsylvania House of Representatives adopted House Resolution (HR) 68 on March 23, 2021 which pertains to the availability of dental health services in rural areas of Pennsylvania and seeks recommendations to expand oral health care to those areas. This study will be performed by the LBFC this summer and a final report, with policy recommendations, is expected by the end of 2022.
WHO Adopts Oral Health Strategy
The World Health Organization (WHO) announced member states’ adoption of a new global strategy on oral health at the World Health Assembly 75. This strategy will guide the development of a new global action plan that includes a framework for tracking progress with targets for achieving optimal oral health to be completed by 2030. This plan sets the stage for universal health coverage for oral health, with the goal of allowing all people to access oral health services and live healthy lives by “tackling social and commercial determinants and risk factors of oral diseases and conditions.”