| "Just
the F.A.C.T.S" Oral Health Report |
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The Task Force on Oral Health of Older Adults released its
report Just the F.A.C.T.S after
a year-long review of oral health concerns of older adults in
Connecticut. The F.A.C.T.S. are Financial, Advocacy,
Communication, Treatment and Services strategies to improve the oral
health and overall health of Connecticut's older adult residents.
The task force was formed last year by the Department of Public Health
after concerns from the community were raised about access to oral
health services (see list in article on right).
"We asked the task force members to come up with actionable strategies,
those that can be implemented now without a lot of planning and
allocation of new funds," said Dr. Norma Gyle, Deputy Commissioner of
the Department of Public Health. "I know it was a tall order but
they succeeded. I am pleased that many of the strategies focus on
what the different community organizations and agencies that work with
older adults can do to support improved oral health for this population
and not just what state government can do," she said.
The older adult population in the U.S. is projected to increase by 126
percent over the next 50 years. Currently in Connecticut, the
elderly population represents approximately 14 percent of the
population.
According to Dr. Ardell Wilson, State Oral Health Director, "Many older
adults are not aware of where or how to access dental services in their
community. Obstacles to oral healthcare include limited knowledge
about dental insurance coverage and out-of-pocket costs, limited public
transportation options, reduced retirement income and knowledge about
the importance of oral health to overall health. Just the
F.A.C.T.S. outlines strategies to address each of these issues."
"Not all the strategies are easy to implement," said Marty Milkovic,
Executive Director of the Connecticut Oral Health Initiative.
"There are simple and cost effective strategies, like labeling dentures
for nursing home patients. Denture replacement costs can be
avoided for families when dentures are routinely labeled. There
are also strategies that support training of medical providers to
understand and recognize the importance of oral health to overall
health in older adults. Recognizing the impact of oral disease on
chronic disease management is critical to improving overall health of
older adults, but not an easy fix."
For more information, visit the Department of Public Health, Office of
Oral Health website at http://www.ct.gov/dph.
See the Report . . .
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Come and
E.A.T. - an Oral Health Event
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Education, Advocacy & Treatment
for Older Adults
On
Wednesday, March 5th, beginning at 8 am and ending at 5 pm, The Task
Force on Oral Health for Older Adults, a comprehensive group of
representatives from the oral health field, will have multiple tables
set up in the Concourse of the Legislative Office Building in Hartford
for the purpose of Educating and Advocating on behalf of vulnerable
older adults and their oral health needs, as well as to provide
Treatment. All older adults are encouraged to attend at any time
throughout the day!
The
focus of these tables are varied and include, among others:
addressing
heart disease and hypertension; oral cancer prevention; diabetes;
medications and oral health; advocacy; oral hygiene (denture care,
teeth/gums care); access to care; the CT Mission Of Mercy Project.
Additionally
on Wednesday, March 5th, at 9 am, the Task Force On Oral Health Of
Older Adults will conduct a press conference in room 1C of the
Legislative Office Building to discuss findings in its recently
released report entitled Just The F.A.C.T.S: Strategies To Improve Oral
Health Of Older Adults In Connecticut.
We hope to see you there!
The Task Force on Oral Health for
Older Adults
- AARP CT
- CT Association of Agencies
on Aging
- CT Association for
Not-for-Profit Providers for the Aging (CANPFA)
- CT Association of Health
Care Facilities
- CT Alzheimer's Association
- CT Dental Hygienists'
Association, Inc.
- CT Department of
Developmental Services
- CT Department of Public
Health
- CT Department of Social
Services
- CT Health Foundation
- CT Office of Long Term
Care Ombudsman
- CT Oral Health Initiative
(COHI)
- CT State Dental Association
- University of CT School of
Dental Medicine
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A Year After, Medicaid
Dental Coverage Still Lacking
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CQPolitics.com
By Miriam Straus
One year after a 12-year-old Medicaid
beneficiary could not obtain dental care and died after tooth decay
spread to his brain, witnesses told a House panel that the Centers for
Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has done little to improve
beneficiaries' access to dental services.
 "Medicaid still hasn't
learned the most important lessons from the preventable death of
Deamonte Driver," said Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich , D-Ohio, referring to
the Maryland youth whose death highlighted the difficulties Medicaid
beneficiaries face in obtaining dental
services. . . .
Jim
Crall, the director of the National Oral Health Policy Center at the
University of California, Los Angeles, told the panel that Medicaid
dental reimbursement rates are far lower than the 'Usual, Customary and
Reasonable' (UCR) fees that private providers charge for dental
services. In addition, he said, most states have no provisions for
updating Medicaid reimbursement rates regularly to account for
inflation and other increases in the cost of services. The center
studies access to dental care, particularly among low-income children
and families. .
. .
For example,
Connecticut's Medicaid payment rate for a periodic oral exam was $18.08
in 2004, Crall testified, while the median charge for such a procedure
in the state was $37.00. In states that have increased their Medicaid
reimbursement rates, the increase in provider participation is
substantial, he said. Georgia raised its Medicaid rate to the 75th
percentile of dentist fees in the state, and dentist participation has
increased 825 percent in the 48 months since the change, according to
materials Crall submitted to the subcommittee.
Read the Full Article . . .
Hearing Information . . .
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About COHI
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The
Connecticut
Oral Health Initiative, or COHI
for short, is a state-wide
collaborative of dental professionals, business and community leaders.
Our Mission is Oral Health for All.
We work to persuade, educate
and inform decision makers and the general public about the important
issues involving oral health. We started in 1992 as a project of the
Connecticut State Dental Association and incorporated as a separate
501(c)(3) non-profit corporation in 2003. We are supported by your
tax-deductible contribution and grants from progressive foundations and
businesses.
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