KDA Announces
Kansas Comprehensive Oral Health Initiative
 Leaders of
dentistry and oral health from throughout Kansas today described a comprehensive
initiative to elevate the oral health status of Kansans. At a statehouse news
conference in Topeka, supporters of the initiative urged lawmakers to remove
barriers to advancing good oral health care in the state.
"A host of
barriers prevent people from accessing good dental care," stated David Hamel,
President of the Kansas Dental Association. "We know that one single step taken
alone won’t be effective in addressing this public
health issue. That’s why we are presenting this
comprehensive legislative approach which includes
numerous policy initiatives. Some are new and others
have been considered by lawmakers previously. Our
hope is that seeing how these various elements can
work together, lawmakers will support their
enactment."
The comprehensive
initiative includes:
- Creation of Dental Bridging Loan Program to assist local communities in
efforts to attract dentists to rural and underserved areas in the state.
- Restore funding for the Donated Dental Service Program. After 14 years of
support the Kansas Health Policy Authority cut funding for the program last
year. $70,000 is a modest but critical investment of funds used to cover lab
fees and administration of a program that provides in excess of $500,000 in free
dental services to elderly and disabled Kansans each year.
- Expand dental
education opportunities for Kansas students by adding 3-5 seats for residents
with the stipulation they return to practice dentistry in underserved areas of
the state and require a four-year Kansas service agreement for UMKC’s Kansas
students who receive tuition subsidized by the state.
- Include Medicaid
dental coverage for adults in the health reform plans advanced by the Brownback
administration. The state does NOT provide dental services for low-income
Kansans through the Medicaid program. This is the single largest barrier to
dental care for residents who cannot afford basic preventative dental services.
- Create a working group or commission to recommend improvements to the limited
dental Medicaid for children program that currently exists in Kansas.
- Clarify that Non-profit foundations can contribute to pay for training of dental
providers and charitable dental treatments.
- Expand the existing RDH
Extended Care permit program, allowing for more dental procedures to be offered
in nursing homes, community health centers/FQHCs and to children in schools.
"These policy initiatives would address our state’s most pressing oral health
needs," said Kevin Robertson, Executive Director of the Kansas Dental
Association. "It’s estimated that the average dentist provides $33,000 in
charitable dental services to patients every year. That equates to $46.3 million
in assistance donated annually by Kansas dentists.
"Last
weekend our dental community held their 10th annual
Mission of Mercy in the state. As a result of annual
this eight year efforts, dental care has been provided to just
under 20,000 Kansans. These events, coupled with the
services donated through clinics throughout the
state every day, will continue but the time has come
for a more comprehensive approach to tackling oral
public health issues facing Kansas. "
|
