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Oral Health Illustrations: Latest Update
ICR 202610-0938-001 · OMB 0938-1185 · Object 173822200.
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Document Metadata
| File Type | application/octet-stream |
|---|---|
| File Title | Oral Health Illustrations: Latest Update |
| Last Modified By | Impress |
| File Modified | 2023-07-07 |
| File Created | 2026-10-15 |
| Conversion State | complete |
Extracted Text
Oral Health Illustrations Blueprint of Oral Health Last updated: July 6th, 2023 Care Principles of Oral Health Last updated: July 6th, 2023 Care Better Funding, Better Coverage Adults with Medicaid need better oral health coverage. Limiting services lead to patients paying out-of-pocket costs or avoiding oral health care until there is an emergency. State policy changes can designate funding for expanding oral health covered services Raise Reimbursement Rates Oral health care providers want reimbursement rates increased due to inflation, supply shortages and labor costs. State policy changes can raise reimbursement rates for Medicaid providers. Representation in Legislation Oral health care providers have firsthand knowledge of how state legislation affects patients and providers. These experienced individuals must be consulted as states write policies and manage Medicaid oral health care programs. Advocates and community health works should also be involved. Support Providers Complicated enrollment, low reimbursement, burdensome audits, and limited access to specialized care can lead providers to opt out of the oral health care Medicaid program. Varying oral health care payment models used by state Medicaid programs complicate matters further. Navigate Benefits People with Medicaid lack awareness of oral health care benefits and have difficulty navigating system complexities. Frequent state policy changes and fear of unexpected charges lead to poor benefit utilization. When there is a difference between what patients expect to be covered and what is realistically covered, this can create frustration and blame towards the provider. Rural Revival Oral health care providers lack incentives to serve in rural areas, which often is home for many people with Medicaid and people with higher oral health care needs. Increased avenues for oral health care may include more dental clinics, mobile dentistry programs and community health centers. Creating incentives for providers such as school loan repayment programs could offer an incentive and retention for providers leading to better access to oral health care. Translate My Troubles Patients rely on community health workers to bridge cultural and language gaps with their oral health care providers. Interpreter services for certain languages and dialects can be hard to find, and unofficial interpreters such as bilingual staff and patient family members may misunderstand key information during oral health care visits due to lack of oral health education. Know Your Health Oral health literacy is key to improving patient health outcomes. Providers emphasize the importance of preventive care, particularly in childhood, as there are limited Medicaid preventive benefits for adults. However, It is difficult for some people with Medicaid to change their oral health habits and dental providers experience time constraints when educating patients during visits. Oral Health Care Equity for All People with Medicaid face many barriers to care, including transportation issues to far-away clinics. They also have higher rates of missing appointments as they are unable to take time off work and/or lacking childcare options. Dental problems also cause an increase in missed work due to extreme pain, which means loss of money. Providers emphasize the need for specialized training for pregnant women, infants, and patients with special needs. Find Me a Provider There are more people on Medicaid oral health care programs than available providers, leading to long appointment wait times to get a dental appointment. Oral health care services performed in the operating room also require long wait times, which is challenging for children and individuals with special needs who require sedation for oral health care. Delayed oral health care worsens dental conditions and may negatively impact overall health. Turn to Teledentistry Teledentistry can serve as a bridge for patients who cannot get to in-person appointments. Expanding teledentistry services may include an initial diagnoses, referral to specialists and prescribing treatments. Redirect Care Delayed care worsens conditions, sometimes becoming life-threatening. However, the ED cannot fully address dental problems.