|
Oral Health in Virginia Legislature
 The Virginia Oral Health Coalition closely monitors legislation in the Commonwealth to ensure that new and existing policies support access to oral health services and reinforce the relationship between oral health and overall health.
Of note, the Joint Commission on Health Care, in response to its study of the cost of untreated dental disease, recently voted on several policy options (pg. 24), as a result the Commission will:
- Introduce a budget amendment to expand preventive dental benefits for pregnant woman enrolled in Medicaid*; and,
- Study the dental capacity and educational priorities of Virginia's oral health safety net providers.
*This option was proposed by the Secretary of Health and Human Resources, William Hazel, Jr., MD.
There are several ways that you can impact oral health access during the upcoming legislative session.
Webinar: Preview of General Assembly 2014
Join the Coalition's Preview of General Assembly 2014 webinar on Wednesday, December 18 at 10:00 a.m. The webinar will include a review of the Governor's budget, a Medicaid expansion update, and additional opportunities to expand dental benefits for underserved populations.
2014 Oral Health Legislative Day
 Join Coalition staff, board members and partners at the Virginia General Assembly the morning of Wednesday, January 29, 2014, to speak to your legislators about oral health. This is an excellent opportunity to make a direct impact on oral health-related legislation! The Coalition will provide talking points and make appointments for all attendees.
Back to top
|
|
Interprofessional Spotlight: Jefferson College of Health Sciences
 | | Students practice drilling teeth |
Physician assistant (PA) students at Roanoke's Jefferson College of Health Sciences are gaining more than just medical training. Thanks to academic coordinator Sara Nicely, MPAS, PA-C, PA students are now exposed to a formal oral health curriculum, presented by medical and dental providers and a pharmacist. As a result, program graduates will provide oral health services to nearly 3,000 patients each week - a number that will grow as more graduates enter the workforce.
Among many key skills, the curriculum will teach students how regular dental treatment can help manage diabetes and how incorporating oral health services in a well baby visit may keep children out of the operating room for dental care.
Ms. Nicely says her involvement in the Coalition's medical and dental collaboration initiative sparked her to incorporate the oral health curriculum and to plan her doctoral dissertation around the impact of the curriculum on future medical providers.
Back to top
|
|
Of Interest
Oral Health and Overall Health
 Oral health and overall health are fundamentally intertwined. The following links present current information on how oral health is connected to overall health and well-being.
______________________
Early Childhood Caries Cause of Most Canadian Preschoolers' Surgeries
 The Canadian Institute for Health Information has found that 19,000 surgeries are performed each year on children younger than six to treat early childhood caries (cavities) - a preventable disease. Nearly all (99.6 percent) were performed under general anesthesia at a cost of over $21 million Canadian.
Read the full article from Dr. Bicuspid
Colocating RDHs into Medical Practices - A Feasibility Study
 A group of researchers recently tested the feasibility of colocating registered dental hygienists (RDHs) into medical practices. The results showed that colocating the RDHs in medical practices is feasible and is an innovative model to provide preventive oral health services to disadvantaged children.
______________________
Back to top
|
|
Please visit our website for more oral health information
|
