- Public Inspection: CMS: Medicare Program: Prospective Payment System and Consolidated Billing for Skilled Nursing Facilities; Updates to the Quality Reporting Program for Federal Fiscal Year 2026
- Public Inspection: CMS: Medicare Program: Fiscal Year 2026 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update and Hospice Quality Reporting Program Requirements
- CMS: Request for Information; Health Technology Ecosystem
- VA: Staff Sergeant Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program Funding Opportunity
- State: 60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: J-1 Visa Waiver Recommendation Application
- Public Inspection: CMS: Request for Information: Health Technology Ecosystem
- HHS: Request for Information (RFI): Ensuring Lawful Regulation and Unleashing Innovation To Make American Healthy Again
- VA: Solicitation of Nominations for the Appointment to the Advisory Committee on Tribal and Indian Affairs
- GAO Seeks New Members for Tribal and Indigenous Advisory Council
- VA: Staff Sergeant Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program Funding Opportunity
- 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
New Resource Focuses on Children’s Dental Health
Tiny Smiles, an American Dental Association “Give Kids A Smile Program”, is offering free resources along with Scholastic ahead of Children’s Dental Health Month. There are resources for educators, dental professionals, and medical professionals. Resources include kids’ activities and family topics for use in classrooms and office waiting rooms. All materials are available in English and Spanish and aim to promote the importance of oral health for young children.
75th Anniversary of Community Water Fluoridation
January 25, 2020 is the 75th anniversary of community water fluoridation, a practice that helps significantly improve oral health. Join Pennsylvania Coalition for Oral Health and other organizations in celebrating this important public health achievement by spreading the word on Facebook and Twitter. The American Fluoridation Society created free graphics to use to promote the anniversary on social media. There will be a “Twitter Storm” on Friday, January 24 from 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. to celebrate the anniversary. During this time, fill Twitter with community water fluoridation anniversary posts. Be sure to use #fluoride4health75 in all posts!
Report Demonstrates How Medicaid Increases Adult Access to Oral Health Care
Part 2 of a research report from the DentaQuest Partnership for Oral Health Advancement demonstrates how Medicaid, with its limited dental coverage, significantly improved adults’ access and utilization of dental services, compared to those who lack medical coverage. Click to read about Medicaid, family income and dental services.
Prepare for National Children’s Dental Health Month
National Children’s Dental Health Month is in February. This year’s theme is “Fluoride in water prevents cavities! Get it from the tap!” and celebrates the 75th anniversary of community water fluoridation. Free resources are available.
Report Assesses Children’s Drink Choices
A new report from the University of Connecticut’s Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity assesses the sales, nutrition, and marketing of children’s drinks. Their findings show that sweetened drinks with added sugars and often low-calorie sweeteners continue to dominate sales and advertising of drinks marketed for children’s consumption. Overconsumption of these drinks can have adverse effects on children’s oral and overall health.
ADA Guideline Advises Against Antibiotics for Dental Pain
A new ADA guideline indicates that “antibiotics are not needed to manage most dental pain and intraoral swelling associated with pulpal and periapical infections.” The guideline advises against using antibiotics for most pulpal and periapical conditions and instead recommends only the use of dental treatment and, if needed, over-the-counter pain relievers. This guideline is part of larger efforts across the globe to prevent antibiotics from becoming ineffective in treating bacterial infections. Click here for more information.
DentaQuest Report Part 1: The Burden of Dental Care Costs for Low-Income Families
Did you know that people living in poverty spend ten times more as a proportion of their annual family income on dental services than high-income families? Click here to read Part 1 of our 3-part series that outlines barriers to dental care based on income, and how expansion of an adult dental benefit could increase access to care and reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Stay tuned for Parts 2 and 3 in our series about the burden of out-of-pocket costs of dental care for low-income families. Visit our Research page for other research briefs, white papers, articles and more.
Read the report from DentaQuest here: https://www.dentaquestpartnership.org/system/files/Poverty%20Report.pdf
Oral Health Advocates Flood Capitol Hill
On October 24, 2019, members of the Oral Health Progress and Equity Network (OPEN) from across the nation met with Congressional offices to talk about the importance of oral health. Advocates presented each office they met with three policy asks to improve oral health outcomes; include oral health coverage under Medicare Part B, include oral health as a mandatory component of pregnancy-related benefits in Medicaid, and increase funding for the CDC Division of Oral Health to support an oral health program in every state.
New Online Resource Addresses Oral Health Needs
The American Academy of Pediatrics has published the “Oral Health Prevention Primer,” an online resource for pediatricians and providers who want to do more to address the oral health needs of children. The resource will help providers working with children understand the roles of various oral health allies, how they can collaborate, ways to provide oral health services, and how to advocate to achieve optimal oral health for their community with the goal of preventing dental disease before it starts.
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Asking for Public Comment
The United States Preventive Services Task Force has announced an opportunity for public comment on “Draft Research Plan for Prevention of Dental Caries in Children Younger Than Age 5 Years: Screening and Interventions.” All comments must be submitted electronically and are due by October 16, 2019. Click here to view the full report and submit comments.