- Fact Sheet: The Biden-Harris Administration Highlights Investments in Rural America, Invites Public Nominations for Rural Innovators Initiative
- Rural Victims of Intimate-Partner Violence Need More Resources and Support, Study Finds
- A Tribe in Maine Is Using Opioid Settlement Funds on a Sweat Lodge to Treat Addiction
- Fact Sheet: USDA, HHS Announce New Actions to Reduce Impact and Spread of H5N1
- Call for Experts: Forum on Aging, Disability, and Independence
- Bill to Expand Definition of 'Village' Qualifying for Water Funds Passes Alaska House
- Child Care Workers Caught in Middle of Michigan's Broken Child Care System
- Few Options Available for Substance Abuse Treatment in the Big Bend
- In Rural Texas, ERs Are Facing a Growing Mental Health Crisis
- Ways and Means Members Put Forth Solutions to Strengthen Telehealth Access and Improve Health Care for Rural Communities
- Sage Memorial Hospital in Navajo Nation Constructs New Facility to Improve Health Care
- How the State, Tribes and Federal Government Are Working to Curb SD's Syphilis Epidemic
- Rural Children Struggle to Access Hospital Services, Say Researchers
- RPHARM Program Fulfills Need for Rural Pharmacists
- A Pilot Program in Rural Vermont Hopes to Build a Blueprint for Substance Abuse Recovery
Dental Public Health Resource
The Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors (ASTDD) released a “Dental Public Health 101” learning module. Dental Public Health focuses on dental and oral health issues in communities and populations rather than individuals.
Exploring Alternative Payment Models for Oral Health Care
In January 2020, the DentaQuest Partnership published an article in Decisions in Dentistry that evaluated Medicaid claims of alternative payment models (APMs) and fee for service (FFS). Key takeaways from the their study demonstrated that:
- In 2016, the Center for Health Care Strategies noted “states may be able to use their purchasing power to encourage better access, quality and accountability in oral health care for children in Medicaid — particularly through contracting with dental plans.”
- This analysis of a national sample of Medicaid dental claims found an approximate 6% increase (from 27% to 33%) in dental claims associated with APMs from 2013 to 2017.
- The costs over the lifespan for APMs were lower than traditional FFS models, while utilization was better in the APM plans.
- Dental utilization in this sampling was highest during pediatric care and sharply declines within the 20s, before remaining low for the rest of the lifespan.
Oral Health Coalition Releases 2019 Annual Report
The Pennsylvania Coalition for Oral Health (PCOH) has released their annual report for 2019 detailing accomplishments for the year. They extend a heartfelt thank you to their 2019 stakeholders, sponsors, and financial partners!
Resource Guide for Fluoride Varnish & Silver Diamine Fluoride
The National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center recently published the Fluoride Varnish and Silver Diamine Fluoride Resource Guide that was funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The guide is to help professionals and consumers learn more about these products to promote oral health and prevent oral disease by providing professional education and training, materials on data and surveillance and public education.
Medicare Dental Benefit Will Improve Health and Reduce Health Care Costs
Medicare reform to improve oral health for all is at the heart of a blog written by Diane Oaks and the DentaQuest Partnership’s Executive Director of Grants Strategy Mike Monopoli, DMD, MPH, MS, which was named as second in The Five Most-Read GrantWatch Blog Posts Of 2019 by Health Affairs.
States to Watch Oral Health in 2020: New Hampshire and the Adult Dental Benefit
New Hampshire has passed House Bill 692/HB 4, adding a comprehensive adult dental benefit that will aid nearly 120,000 adult residents covered under both traditional and Medicaid expansion requirements. Open here to read the first in our blog series on States to Watch in 2020.
Healthy Mouths: Why They Matter for Adults and State Budgets
How does your state measure up in providing a comprehensive Medicaid adult dental benefit? Read DentaQuest’s latest brief, Healthy Mouths: Why They Matter for Adults and State Budgets, which explores the ways in which the lack of a comprehensive dental benefit can drain state budgets, and how adding this benefit can improve population and fiscal health.
2020 Will Bring Major Changes to the Oral Health Landscape
There’s a lot on the oral health horizon in 2020. As we start a new year and a new decade, we can expect significant changes that will address the oral health industry’s biggest challenges and fundamentally change the way Americans access oral health care. From the first Surgeon General’s Report on Oral Health in 20 years to disruptive technology, here’s what we’re watching.
New Report Explores Preventing Dental Caries in Children
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force posted a final research plan on screening and interventions to prevent dental caries in children younger than 5 years. The draft research plan was posted for public comment in September. The Task Force reviewed all of the comments and took them into consideration. Read more here.
New Oral Health During Pregnancy Resource from OHRC
The Oral Health Resource Center (OHRC) recently released “Promoting Oral Health During Pregnancy: Update on Activities.” This is the seventh in a series of updates to highlight national, state, and local activities focusing on oral health care for pregnant women. The update includes briefs, guides, handouts, reports, toolkits, and trainings for health professionals and consumers. Read more here.