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public policy – agenda

2008 PUBLIC POLICY AGENDA - (Download PDF Version)

MISSION:
To increase oral health through advocacy, public education and awareness.

STRATEGIC AREAS:

• Prevention
• Access to Care
• Oral Health Workforce
• Oral Health Status
• Oral Health Leadership

ISSUES:

The following priorities reflect policy and/or budget recommendations that the coalition believes are essential to improving oral health in our state. As part of OHK’s ongoing efforts to shape policy that supports oral health improvement, we have identified priorities that span three of our five strategic areas.

 PREVENTION

Policy Priorities:

• Promote and support policies that encourage healthy options in schools, i.e. limited access to sugary snacks and beverages.

• Increase number of communities with access to water fluoridation.

• Promote comprehensive, school-based oral health screening and programming.

• Support federal legislation/initiatives aimed at helping states improve oral health.

ACCESS TO DENTAL CARE

Policy Priorities:

• Seek comprehensive dental benefit for all adult beneficiaries of Medicaid.

• Increase Medicaid provider network.

• Increase Medicaid dental reimbursement rates.

• Ensure health reform initiatives include dental coverage as part of a comprehensive benefit package.

• Support on-going funding for creating and sustaining safety net dental “hubs”.

• Seek a Head Start waiver allowing registered dental hygienists to perform mandatory oral health screenings.

ORAL HEALTH WORKFORCE

Policy Priorities:

• Support changes in the Dental Practice Act that allow rural areas to be innovative in delivering dental care to their residents.

• Support funding and development of a dental workforce recruitment program.

• Seek on-going state support for the Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) Clinical Residency Program located in Wichita.

• Support additional workforce development initiatives such as tuition reimbursement, loan repayment, community-based incentive programs, etc.

• Promote and encourage use of Extended Care Permits to increase preventive care and education in community-based settings.