2006 LEGISLATIVE SESSION UPDATE
Key priorities have emerged this Legislative session that have given Oral Health Kansas several opportunities to engage policy makers in discussions about oral health. In January, the coalition provided testimony before the House Health and Human Services Committee. The testimony was an opportunity to talk about the declining supply of dental services in Kansas as well as some of the coalition's strategies for improving access to dental care.
Specifically, we took the opportunity to address the use of Extended Care Permits, the creation of an Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) Clinical Residency Program and the expansion of Medicaid to cover dental services for individuals receiving Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) waivers.
AEGD Clinical Residency Program
In the summer of 2005, Sedgwick County, on behalf of Oral Health Kansas, commissioned Triangle Associates of St. Louis, Missouri, to conduct a study regarding the feasibility of creating an AEGD residency program, which is a one-year, post-doctoral training program for dentists. The committee received the report at the end of December 2005, and it was publicly released at the Sedgwick County Commission meeting on January 25, 2006. (The full report and Executive Summary can be found on our website at www.oralhealthkansas.org.)
The results of the study clearly showed that an AEGD residency program is not only feasible in Kansas, but also has many factors leaning already in its favor, including high demand nationwide for similar residency programs, broad community support, availability of federal support through Graduate Medical Education (GME) monies and possible Health Resources Service Administration (HRSA) funds for new programs. A residency program like this will not only serve the immediate needs in the community, but it also increases the likelihood of dentists considering Kansas as a permanent location for practice.
The overarching goal in building a premiere clinical training program for dentists is the potential impact on access to care for Kansans. In the short-run, AEGD residents will provide dental care primarily in a community clinic setting. However, in the long-run, the hope is to create opportunities for residents that will allow them to develop relationships with other local practitioners and to experience community-based dentistry in rural and underserved areas. Coupling these experiences with programs that offer technical assistance directly to communities, we believe will increase the likelihood that residents will remain in Kansas to provide care in rural and underserved areas.
Upon presentation of the study results, there is a clear commitment by the steering committee to move AEGD forward in Kansas. The timeline suggested by the study indicates that it is possible to have the first class of residents begin in August 2008.
Funding Request
Early in February, OHK provided testimony to the Senate Ways and Means Subcommittee on the Kansas Department of Health & Environment. In our testimony, OHK requested a $415,000 appropriation for the Office of Oral Health to support the creation and on-going operations of an AEGD Clinical Residency Program.
House Concurrent Resolution
After our presentation to the House Health and Human Services Committee, the Committee introduced HCR 5038. The Resolution expresses both House and Senate support for the creation of an AEGD Clinical Residency Program. Back to menu
APPLICATION OF FLUORIDE VARNISH FOR MEDICAL AND DENTAL PROVIDERS
Medical Providers
On August 18 , 2005, Medicaid changed its policy and began allowing certain medical providers (general practitioners, pediatricians, family practice physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants) to apply fluoride varnish in the medical office. These providers can bill Medicaid three times per year for the application of fluoride varnish.
Dental Providers
Although always allowed to bill Medicaid for the application of fluoride varnish, dental providers are now also allowed to bill Medicaid for the application of fluoride varnish three times a year. Previously, dental providers had been limited to provide one fluoride application every six months. This new policy went into effect 1/1/06.
In addition to private dental providers, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC), Intermediate Care Facility/Mentally Retarded (ICF/MR), Local Health Departments (LHD), Indian Health Clinics (IHC) and Head Start Centers have always been able to bill for dental services; thus, the August changes in medical policy do not affect them.
The above-mentioned dental providers are not allowed to bill under a medical provider number to provide three additional fluoride varnish applications a year. Back to menu
SEDGWICK COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT SPONSORS 19TH ANNUAL MOLARDRAMA: CAVITY CRISIS IN COWTOWN
February is Children's Dental Health Month, and the Sedgwick County Health Department organized the annual event to educate children on the importance of oral health, and to teach proper dental habits. The Children's Dental Clinic of the Sedgwick County Health Department has been organizing special Children's Dental Health Month activities since 1977.
The Molardrama performances were free with the aid of local collaborative partnerships. The Wichita District Dental Society underwrote the cost of the production, and the Wichita State University (WSU) Dental Hygiene students assisted with the performances. At each Molardrama, every child received a toothbrush, dental floss, educational stickers, and an apple coupon to be redeemed at area Dillon's grocery stores.
"The Molardrama is a great way to teach second-graders in Sedgwick County about good dental hygiene. Each year, over 5,000 students learn the importance of good oral health! The annual Molardrama helps these children have a healthy smile and the dental habits they learn will remain with them for a lifetime," said Sedgwick County Commission Chairman Ben Sciortino. Back to menu
QUITLINE AVAILABLE FOR KANSANS WANTING TO STOP USING TOBACCO
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has a toll-free Quitline to support Kansans ready to stop using tobacco.
The Kansas Tobacco Quitline, 1-866-KAN-STOP, is a statewide, telephone-based resource that provides screening, counseling, support materials and referrals for tobacco cessation assistance based on an individual's readiness to quit.
The program provides comprehensive follow-up counseling support for those who are ready to quit or are contemplating a cessation attempt.
The Quitline is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and is always answered live by a smoking cessation counselor.
For more information, visit the KDHE website at http://www.kdheks.gov/tobacco/. Back to menu
SAVE THE DATE
The 3rd Annual Oral Health Conference will be held October 27-28 in Wichita.
We’ll keep you updated as more details become available. Back to menu
BECOME AN OHK MEMBER TODAY
Please join us in improving the oral health status of all Kansas citizens.
Privileges of membership:
- Opportunity to participate in the OHK annual meeting.
- Subscription to the OHK electronic newsletter, which includes information on state and national oral health initiatives and activities as well as legislative updates and alerts throughout the legislative session.
- Legislative, Executive and Administrative Branch and community advocacy representation.
- Opportunity to participate in coalition committees and other work groups.
- Discounted rates for OHK training and/or other events or educational opportunities.
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Types of membership:
- Sustaining Member (Above $500): Consider making an additional gift to Oral Health Kansas to support us in achieving our mission.
- Corporate Member ($500): Open to for-profit entities, corporations, businesses, consultants, vendors or institutions that support oral health issues or provide oral health services.
- Associate Member ($100): Open to not-for-profit or public entities or organizations that support oral health projects or provide oral health services.
- Individual Member ($25): Open to any individual who is interested in oral health issues (ex. individual dentists or hygienists, consumers, or other interested parties).
You can download a membership application from our website at www.oralhealthkansas.org. Back to menu |
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