- 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
- Using Medicaid to Address Young People's Mental Health Needs in School Settings
- Across the Country, Amish Populations Are on the Rise
- 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
- Biden-Harris Administration Takes Action to Support the Primary Care Workforce
Case Study: Iowa’s I-Smile Program Promoting Dental Care
A unique partnership between the Iowa Medicaid and public health agencies, Iowa’s I-Smile program addresses the disproportionate impact of dental disease on low-income individuals and families. The initiative is supported through cooperative agreement between the National Organizations of State and Local Health Officials and the Health Resources and Services Administration. Read more here.
Report Released on Racial Inequities in Dental Care
CBS-affiliate WUSA 9 reported on the racial disparities in dental care. The report cites The Pew Charitable Trusts studies showing higher rates of tooth decay and tooth loss in communities of color. The report examines contributing factors such as the low insurance reimbursement rates for patients on Medicaid.
Call to Action for All Health Advocates
The Families USA Health Action Network released, “Now is the Time for Oral Health Coverage: A Call to Action for All Health Advocates.” The publication covers how achieving a healthier, stronger, more equitable nation requires prioritizing comprehensive health coverage that includes oral health care. They are asking the public to submit personal stories about the importance of oral health care or how a lack of access to oral health care has affecting them.
Click here to read the publication.
Click here to submit a personal story.
Report: Parents Feel Comfortable Discussing HPV with Dentists
The ADA News reported a new study found that “parents feel comfortable having discussions about human papillomavirus (HPV) and its vaccine in the dental setting.” A survey of 208 parents of adolescents aged 9-17 found 66.4% of the parents felt dentists were qualified to counsel about HPV and 72.6% felt they were qualified to counsel about the vaccination. The findings were published in the Journal of the American Dental Association.
New Brief: Boosting Oral Health Care in Rural Communities
The National Conference of State Legislators released a legislative brief on “Boosting Oral Health Care in Rural Communities.” The brief visits topics such as teledentistry, mobile dental services, and workforce efforts. Rural communities face a range of barriers to accessing oral health care such as long distances to providers, lack of transportation, lack of insurance, and a shortage of oral health providers.
Healthy People Law and Health Policy Oral Health Report Released
The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP) released “Using Law and Policy to Promote the Use of Oral Health Services in the United States.” This is the fifth report in a series highlighting the practical application of law and policy to improve health across the nation. The report presents evidence-based policy solutions that community leaders, government officials, public health professionals, health care providers, lawyers, and social service providers can use in their communities.
HRSA Announces Additional Funds for Dental Providers
The Health and Human Services Administration (HRSA) announced additional distributions from the Provider Relief Fund are available for eligible dental providers. This includes dental providers who have not received payment from the Provider Relief Fund Medicare-focused General Distribution of the Medicaid and CHIP Distribution. Applications are due by August 3rd through the Enhanced Provider Relief Fund Payment Portal.
Click here for more information.
Click here to submit an application.
Boosting Oral Health Care in Rural Communities
Both societal and geographical barriers make it difficult for rural communities to access oral care. Additionally, rural communities are more likely to experience poverty and regions with higher rates of poverty have significantly fewer dentists per 100,000 people. Due to this shortage, State and Federal legislators are working to improve access to oral health care for rural communities. Boosting the health care workforce, expanding
Healthy People 2020: Using Law and Policy to Promote the Use of Oral Health Services in the United States
Good oral health is essential to overall health and well-being, but oral health problems are common. More than 4 in 5 people have had at least one cavity by age 34, and more than 2 in 5 adults have had mouth pain in the past year.
And yet less than half of the population uses the oral health care system. Many common oral health problems like tooth decay, gum disease, and jaw disorders are preventable with regular oral care. But many people who need this care face barriers, which means they aren’t able to get the care they need.
This is a summary of the report, Oral Health: The Role of Law and Policy in Increasing the Use of Oral Health Services, which is the fifth in a series of reports that highlights the practical application of law and policy to improve health across the Nation. Each report also has success stories, or Bright Spots, that show how communities use laws and policies to meet their health goals and achieve Healthy People Oral Health targets.
This report presents evidence-based and promising law and policy solutions that community and tribal leaders, government officials, public health professionals, health care providers, lawyers, and social service providers can use in their own communities. These solutions focus on improving oral health care financing, strengthening the oral health workforce, and removing barriers to using oral health care services. Many of these solutions align with the Heathy People objective to increase the number of people who use the oral health care system.
National Report: Prevalence of Tooth Loss Among Older Adults
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released “Prevalence of Tooth Loss Among Older Adults: United States, 2015-2018.” The data was collected using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The prevalence of complete tooth loss among adults aged 65 and over was 12.9% in 2015-2018. Complete tooth loss can diminish quality of life, limiting food choices and impeding social interaction.