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Oral health coverage and health care reform

Date: January 30, 2014
Author: Dawn Jacobs
Categories: Adult Dental, Affordable Care Act, Chidren's Dental, Child Dental, Medicaid

The Pierce County Oral Health Coalition is proud to organize a presentation on Feb. 12, on oral health coverage issues and health care reform. Continuing education (CE) credits are available.

  • Restoration of adult dental Medicaid benefits in Washington State.  Presentation by Dianne Baum, Dental Program Administrator, Washington Health Care Authority, 1-2 p.m.
  • Pediatric dental benefits on the Washington Health Benefit Exchange (HBE). Presentation by Christine Gibert, HBE Senior Policy Analyst, 2-3 p.m.

The first presentation by Baum begins at 1 p.m., followed by Gibert at 2 p.m. Both presentations will take place at Evergreen State College-Tacoma Campus, located at 1201 6th Street, Tacoma, WA 98405. For a map, please go here.

The event is recommended for oral health professionals and providers and individuals and groups who work with populations who may eligible for these new benefits made possible through health care reform at the state and federal level.

Lunch will be provided; please RSVP by Feb. 6 at pcohc@pcdentists.org, or use our contact page.  Space may be limited. A copy of the flyer for the event can be found here.

Note: Gibert’s presentation was recently confirmed, and those who have already sent an RSVP for Baum’s presentation do not need to reply again.

State Board of Health endorses seven oral health strategies

Date: November 21, 2013
Author: Dawn Jacobs
Categories: Oral Health Strategies
The State Board of Health Presented a graphic image of the multiple facets of oral health in a presentation made on Nov. 13, 2013.

The Washington State Board of Health presented a graphic image of the multiple facets of oral health in a presentation made on Nov. 13.

Following nearly two years of planning with state and national oral health experts, the Washington State Board of Health endorsed seven oral health strategies to improve the oral health of state residents. The board endorsed the proposals at its Nov. 13 meeting, following a detailed discussion of the strategies from state oral health experts.

The guidelines provide a foundation to guide the board’s policy development activities and encourage efforts that focus on oral health promotion, prevention, intervention, and treatment.

The board noted in its summary of the strategies that poor oral health is costly to the state and is associated with a range of problems that affect children, adults, and seniors. An estimated 51 million school hours are lost annually by children because of dental health problems, and dental complaints in 2010 were the No. 1 reason why uninsured adults visited the state’s hospital emergency rooms, racking up $36 million in costs over 18 months.

A copy of the seven strategies can be found on the board’s web site. A detailed presentation summarizing the strategies is also published. The strategies call for best-practice and evidence-based efforts focusing on the following areas:

  • Health systems
  • Community water fluoridation
  • Sealant programs
  • Interprofessional collaboration
  • Oral health literacy
  • Surveillance
  • Work force

Partners in Action at Project Homeless Connect, October 2013

Date: November 6, 2013
Author: Dawn Jacobs
Categories: Adult Dental, Emergent Care, Volunteer Dental Care

Pierce County Oral Health Coalition members returned to the Tacoma Dome on Oct. 23, 2013, to deliver oral health services to hundreds attending the recent Project Homeless Connect. Coalition members from a variety of Pierce County organizations, as well as individual dentists, volunteered their time to triage dental needs, provide oral health assessments, do cleanings, take X-rays, and offer restorative and  denture work, among other services. The majority of those who received services that day had unmet dental needs, received care to deal with urgent issues, and were referred to community resources for follow-up care as available.

Thank you to all of our oral health Partners in Action for their commitment to make oral health services accessible to all residents of Pierce County, and for volunteering their time and resources to events such as Project Homeless Connect.

Project Homeless Connect providing dental and other services on Oct. 23

Date: October 21, 2013
Author: Dawn Jacobs
Categories: Adult Dental

Project Homeless Connect returns to the Tacoma Dome on Wednesday, Oct. 23, providing Pierce County residents a range of dental, medical, veterinary, social, and other services.

Those who are not able to be seen during the hours of service will receive resources for other services in the community. Past events have seen very high demand, so interested homeless individuals are encouraged to arrive early.

   What: Project Homeless Connect
   When: Wednesday, Oct. 23, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
   Where: Tacoma Dome, 2727 East D St, Tacoma, WA 98421

More information about Project Homeless Connect can be found on the organization’s web site and on its Facebook page. A flyer for the event may be downloaded here.

For more information: visit www.pchomelessconnect.com or send an email to coordinator@pchomelessconnect.com.