- CMS: Medicare and Medicaid Programs: CY 2026 Payment Policies Under the Physician Fee Schedule and Other Changes to Part B Payment and Coverage Policies; Medicare Shared Savings Program Requirements; and Medicare Prescription Drug Inflation Rebate Program
- Public Inspection: CMS: Medicare and Medicaid Programs: CY 2026 Payment Policies under the Physician Fee Schedule and Other Changes to Part B Payment and Coverage Policies; Medicare Shared Savings Program Requirements; and Medicare Prescription Drug Inflation Rebate Program
- CMS: Medicare Program; Implementation of Prior Authorization for Select Services for the Wasteful and Inappropriate Services Reduction (WISeR) Model
- Public Inspection: CMS: Medicare Program: Implementation of Prior Authorization for Select Services for the Wasteful and Inappropriate Services Reduction Model
- CMS: Secretarial Comments on the CBE's (Battelle Memorial Institute) 2024 Activities: Report to Congress and the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services
- HHS: Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: Marketplace Integrity and Affordability
- Public Inspection: HHS: Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: Marketplace Integrity and Affordability
- Increased Risk of Cyber Threats Against Healthcare and Public Health Sector
- HRSA Announces Action to Lower Out-of-Pocket Costs for Life-Saving Medications at Health Centers Nationwide
- Announcing the 2030 Census Disclosure Avoidance Research Program
- Eight Hospitals Selected for First Cohort of Rural Hospital Stabilization Program
- CMS: Medicare Program; Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems for Acute Care Hospitals and the Long-Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System and Policy Changes and Fiscal Year 2026 Rates; Requirements for Quality Programs; and Other Policy Changes; Correction
- CMS: Medicare Program; Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems for Acute Care Hospitals and the Long-Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System and Policy Changes and Fiscal Year 2026 Rates; Requirements for Quality Programs; and Other Policy Changes; Correction
- CMS: Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Contract Year 2026 Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage Program, Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program, Medicare Cost Plan Program, and Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly; Correction
- CMS: Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Contract Year 2026 Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage Program, Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program, Medicare Cost Plan Program, and Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly; Correction
Just Released! 2024 Progress Update on Pennsylvania Oral Health Plan Outcomes
PCOH recently published “2024 Progress Update on Measurable Outcomes for the Pennsylvania Oral Health Plan 2020-2030.” This resource tracks the efforts of 22 measurable outcomes across three priority areas including in the Pennsylvania Oral Health Plan 2020-2030. The resource identifies a baseline data point, the current status, and 2030 goal for each outcome. Check it out to see how Pennsylvania is doing with improving oral health!
Pennsylvania Oral Health Coalition Published 2023 Impact Report
PCOH is pleased to announce the release of our 2023 Impact Report. Thank you to all of our stakeholders, partners, and funders for making this work possible. We look forward to working collaboratively to improve oral health in 2024 and beyond!
Act Now: Sign on to Improve Dental Care Access for Pennsylvanians with IDDs
Make a difference in dental care inclusivity for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in Pennsylvania. You have the opportunity to support a crucial initiative that would support equitable access to dental care for the 1 in 4 Pennsylvanians with a disability. The Governor’s Exceptional Medically Underserved Population (EMUP) designation is an opportunity for Pennsylvania to access additional federal funding for vital needs like increasing primary care access, provider loan repayment, incentivized reimbursement, and much more. Lend your organization’s support – sign on today to improve dental care access for Pennsylvanians with IDD.
Click here for more information.
Click here to sign on to the letter.
New CareQuest Report Highlights Oral-Systemic Interaction
The CareQuest Institute for Oral Health released a new report, Oral-Systemic Interaction and Medical-Integration: A Life Course Approach. The report provides an overview of the bidirectional nature of oral and systemic diseases across phases of life and explores how integrated care delivery improves access and health outcomes.
February is National Children’s Dental Health Month!
February is National Children’s Dental Health Month. This month-long national health observance brings together thousands of dedicated professionals, healthcare providers, and educators to promote the benefits of good oral health to children, their caregivers, teachers, and many others. The 2024 theme is “Healthy Habits for Healthy Smiles.” The American Dental Association has free downloadable posters, postcards, and flyers available on their website. You can also order physical copies of these materials to be shipped.
New Teledentistry Toolkit Available from CareQuest
The CareQuest Institute for Oral Health released a new resource, “Teledentistry Regulation and Policy Guidance: A Toolkit to Promote Access and Quality Care Through Teledentistry.” This resource identifies primary considerations for regulators and policymakers regarding teledentistry and includes key recommendations.
American Academy of Pediatrics Launches New Fluoridation Webpage
The American Academy of Pediatrics recently launched a new fluoridation webpage. It provides numerous downloadable resources for health professionals and families and tackles frequently asked questions including questions rooted in misinformation. The new webpage also includes videos about fluoridation, infographics, and posters that are able to be printed.
Updated Pennsylvania State Health Assessment Report Published
The Pennsylvania Department of Health Office of Operational Excellence recently published the updated 2023 Pennsylvania State Health Assessment (SHA). The report, “The State of Our Health: A Statewide Health Assessment of Pennsylvania,” was first published in August 2023. The report highlights the need for more dentists in Pennsylvania, especially for those enrolled in Medicaid. It also touches on the importance of oral health and dental caries as one of the most chronic diseases in the country. Thanks to the Pennsylvania Department of Health for including PA Coalition for Oral Health as a stakeholder for this important report.
Pennsylvania Department of Health Releases Updated Basic Oral Health Screening Survey Report
The Pennsylvania Department of Health Oral Health Program released an updated report, “2021-2022 Oral Health Basic Screening Survey of Third Graders.” With support from PCOH, a basic screening survey (BSS) was conducted on third-grade children to collect data on their oral health status during the 2021-2022 academic year. This report summarizes the findings of the state-wide sample and provides valuable insights into the current oral health status of children in third grade in Pennsylvania, informing future policies and programs promoting oral health among the state’s youth. They also released a one-pager of the findings briefly summarizing the report.
Click here to read the updated report.
Click here to read the one-pager.
Pennsylvania Oral Health Legislative Update
See below for important updates on oral health legislation in Pennsylvania. For more information on the bills, please contact Nicole at nicole@paoralhealth.org.
School Screenings by Public Health Dental Hygiene Practitioners
House Bill 1478 would amend the Public School Code allowing school districts to utilize a Public Health Dental Hygiene Practitioner (PHDHP) to fulfill requirements of Section 1403 of the Public School Code relating to mandated dental screenings in districts that do not employ a Certified School Dental Hygienist. This bill successfully passed through the House in October and was approved by the Senate Education Committee yesterday. HB 1478 will now move to the full Senate for consideration.
Restoring Adult Dental Coverage for Medicaid
Today, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives will review House Bill 1417 for its third and final consideration. The advancement of HB 1417 reiterates the impact that advocates can make along with the commitment of legislators to address the oral health needs of Pennsylvanians.
Expansion of Dental Care through Technology Act
Today, House Bill 1585 will be reviewed by the House Appropriations Committee. If passed out of committee, the bill will be returned to the House Floor for its third and final consideration. This bill would define teledentistry, and more importantly authorize the regulation of teledentistry by the State Board of Dentistry, as well as ensure that teledentistry services are covered by insurance carriers.