- Senator Baldwin Introduces HSHS Act to Protect Communities from Hospital Closures
- What to Know about Smoke, Heat and Health
- Tribal Partnership With UW-Madison Combines Ag Research With Indigenous Food Knowledge
- The Rewards of Working as Rural Docs
- Request for Information (RFI): Evolving the Network of the National Library of Medicine
- Dental Therapists, Who Can Fill Cavities and Check Teeth, Get the OK in More States
- Colorectal Cancer Is Rising among Younger Adults. Some States Want to Boost Awareness.
- Rural Hospitals Built During Baby Boom Now Face Baby Bust
- Food Stamps Go Further in Rural Areas — Until You Add Transportation Costs
- CMS Announces Resources and Flexibilities to Assist with the Public Health Emergency in the State of Texas
- CMS Proposes New Payments for Digital Health Under CY2025 PFS Draft Rule
- Improving Public Health by Strengthening Community Infrastructure
- Biden Harris Administration Proposes Policies to Reduce Maternal Mortality, Advance Health Equity, and Support Underserved Communities
- Nearly Half of U.S. Counties Don't Have a Single Cardiologist
- Randolph County, Ill. Turns Unused Part of Nursing Home Into State-Of-The-Art Behavioral Health Center
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.
New Dental Therapy Advocacy Resource Published
Community Catalyst has published a new resource on advancing community-centered oral health policy, “Dental Therapy Advocacy: Community Engagement Guide.” The resource offers general information about the importance of community engagement, policy provisions, and guidelines/suggestions for advocates and funders. While this guide focuses on dental therapy, the resource can be useful for all oral health advocates.
FDA Reissues EUAs on Decontaminating Respirators
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is reissuing certain emergency use authorizations (EUAs) to specify which respirators are appropriate for decontamination. Based on the FDA’s increased understanding of the performance and design of these respirators, the FDA has decided that certain respirators should not be decontaminated for reuse by healthcare personnel.
New Resource on Nutrition and Oral Health Available
The National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center recently published “Nutrition and Oral Health: A Resource Guide.” Nutrition and diet can affect overall health and well-being as well as the development and integrity of the oral cavity and the progression of oral diseases. Likewise, oral disease impacts the ability to eat and nutrition status. Caries-causing bacteria in the mouth use sugar in food to make acid that can break down tooth surfaces and create tooth decay.
Comments Requested on Interventions for Tobacco Smoking Cessation In Adults
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force seeks comments on a draft recommendation statement and draft evidence review on interventions for tobacco smoking cessation in adults, including pregnant persons. The Task Force recommends clinicians ask about tobacco use and connect people to proven, safe methods to help them quit. The evidence is unclear whether e-cigarettes help adults quit smoking. More research is needed on the benefits and harms of using medications to help pregnant people quit. The draft recommendation statement and draft evidence review are available for review and public comment until June 29, 2020.