Our Timeline
Successfully advocated for
-
Public Act No. 21-149, allowing 19 to 26-year-olds to remain on their family’s dental insurance plans, helping thousands of young people in Connecticut maintain continuity of care
-
and Dental Coverage included in the Covered CT program.
2021
2022
-
Secured a 25% increase in adult rates for all dental services and an additional increase for endodontic services (the first adult dental rate increase since 2008, effective July 1 2022)
-
Second annual cleaning authorized for adults on Medicaid who have certain medical conditions
-
Received American Rescue Plan Act funds in the State budget for oral health access and equity initiatives
-
Partial Restoration of Medicaid expansion for HUSKY A parents up to 160% of Federal Poverty Level
-
Dental Therapy authorized and COHI participated in Dental Therapy Workgroup, per enacted statute.
2019
2020
-
Added Licensed Dentists to the list of telehealth providers.
-
Cultural competency continuing education for dental hygienists statute enacted.
2017
2018
-
Enactment of Oral Health Assessments for school children.
-
Expanded definition of public health settings for dental hygienists.
-
Restoration of Medicaid expansion eligibility.
-
Oral health factors accepted as Core Areas of Emphasis in SIM Advanced Medical Home.
-
Oral health objectives accepted as 2016 priorities in Healthy CT 2020.
2015
2016
-
Oral Health integrated in the Community & Clinical Integration Plan and Quality Measures in Connecticut’s State Innovative Mode.
-
Community Water Fluoridation statue enacted with US HHS recommendation for optimal fluoride level in water.
2013
-
Child dental coverage embedded in the Qualified Health Plans of Access Health CT.
2008
-
Recruitment of dentists to provide dental services to HUSKY patients, after the settlement of a class action lawsuit (Carr vs. Wilson-Coker)
2005
-
Enactment of Oral Health Access Bill
-
Establishment of the State Office of Oral Public Health within the Department of Public Health.
-
Carr v. Wilson-Coker lawsuit settled to improving access to oral health care for children enrolled in HUSKY.
2003
-
COHI certified as a 501(c)(3) organization.
2002
-
COHI established and incorporated with funding from the Connecticut Health Foundation to further oral health issues through advocacy efforts.
2001
-
COHI was founded in 2000-2001 as an outgrowth of a Connecticut State Dental Association committee.