The Weekly Wednesday Update is our newsletter which we email every Wednesday with oral health, health and policy updates from around the state and nationally.

To view past issues click here.

 

May 31, 2023
Volume 14, Issue 22

 

Show Your Support While Networking with Others

Open wide to endless opportunities at the 2023 Conference on Oral Health - the perfect platform to showcase your innovations and services and to connect with oral health leaders! . IIf you exhibited at our conference in previous years, you know we like to put our exhibitors up close and personal with participants! This year you won’t have to leave your seat. You will be in the same room as the participants so you can share your materials and not miss a speaker presentation! Returning exhibitors will receive a 10% discount. The exhibitor fee is $500 ($350 nonprofit rate).

As an exhibitor you will receive:

• One complimentary conference registration
• A 5-foot table. A tablecloth will not be provided
• Complimentary internet access
• Complimentary access to all conference meal functions and speakers
• Access to virtual conference platform to interact with virtual attendees

Please email conference.office@wichita.edu for the Promo Code for the returning exhibitor discount. To find sponsors and exhibitor information, click here and for sign up information click here. You also can ask us any questions at info@oralhealthkansas.org.

 

 

Keep Oral Health a National Performance Measure

Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) has proposed transitioning the oral health national performance measure (NPM) to a state performance measure (SPM). Oral health has been an NPM since 1997. If oral health is transitioned to an SPM, it will no longer be a national priority, and efforts to promote oral health care at the national, state, and local levels will suffer.

The current oral health NPM focuses on preventive dental visits for pregnant women and for children and adolescents, ages 1-17. It is a building block that supports efforts toward achieving greater health equity for the maternal child health population.

There are several ways to take action:

• See the webpage, Making the Case to HRSA for Retaining the Oral Health National Performance Measure, for background information, talking points, and a sample communication to help individuals and organizations prepare comments in response to HRSA's proposed change. 
• Share your perspective on the importance of oral health and on retaining the oral health NPM with HRSA.
• Send your comments by e-mail to paperwork@hrsa.gov or by mail to: 

Health Resources and Services Administration 
Information Collection Clearance Officer
5600 Fishers Lane, Room 14N39,
Rockville, MD 20857

• In your communication, state that you are commenting on, "Title V Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant to States Program: Guidance and Forms for the Title V Application/Annual Report, OMB No. 0915-0172 - Revision."
• Submit comments by July 5, 2023

We know that oral health care is most effective and least costly when it's routine. Regular oral health care can help prevent oral disease and identify small problems for early intervention before disease becomes serious. 

 

 

CMS Updates Strategic Plan to Include Oral Health

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) updated its strategic plan to include oral health as a new cross-cutting initiative. CMS will consider opportunities to expand access to oral health coverage using existing authorities and health plan flexibilities. Access to oral health services that promote health and wellness is critical to allow beneficiaries and consumers to achieve the best health possible, consistent with the current program authorities for Medicare, Medicaid/CHIP, and the Marketplace. Therefore, CMS plans to partner with states, health plans, and health care providers to find opportunities to expand coverage, improve access to oral health services and consider options to use our authorities creatively to expand access to care. See the big picture in the strategic plan infographic

 

 

American Institute of Dental Public Health is Offering Two Opportunities

Here are two opportunities for you to check out! American Institute of Dental Public Health (AIDPH) is relaunching their signature program: the Federal Service Immersion (FSI) Program. We are thrilled to be able to restart FSI as an in-person experience hosted in Washington DC in partnership with federal health agencies. FSI is a weeklong experience that provides participants with a chance to visit federal agencies in Washington, D.C. during the week of October 9-13. During the program, participants will have the opportunity to visit various federal agencies, including:

• Health Resources and Services Administration
• Indian Health Services
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• NIH/National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
• National Library of Medicine (tour)
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
• The Food and Drug Administration

Designed for those aspiring to policy, federal service, or government careers, or want to learn more about the federal health infrastructure and funding mechanisms, participants will engage with agency leaders, gaining insights into their work and operations. This new iteration is open to all oral health professionals. You can find more information and the application here. The deadline for applications is approaching, apply soon! 

AIDPH is accepting applications for their 2023-2024 Dental Public Health Leadership Academy. Based on the successes of the first year, they are recruiting for a second cohort of this year-long leadership skill building program. This experience is open to early-and mid-career oral health professionals who desire leadership training in dental public health principles. You can review the RFA and application here

 

 

Upcoming Events

• Course: An Introduction to Value-Based Care in Oral Health: Moving from Volume to Value, 1 CE. Click here for the course information.
• Kansas Community Health Worker Symposium, June 13, 9am-4pm in Wichita. Register here.

 

 

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Oral Health Kansas Board Vice President Dr. Nick Rogers was one of two private practice dentists who shared their strategies for working with FQHCs on an ADA webinar last week. The webinar, “Side by Side: Winning Examples of Public/Private Partnerships,” discussed how dental offices can partner with safety net clinics and how dentists can work part-time in the clinics as a way of helping ensure underserved populations are able to access dental care. Dr. Rogers and David E. Brazil, CEO of Community Health Center in Cowley County, shared the partnership model they use to serve the residents of the rural south central Kansas county. Congratulations to Dr. Rogers for continuing to lead by example and share how his successful community outreach can be replicated in other communities across the country.

 

 

 

 

Sugary Drink Display

We have Adult and Children's Sugary Drink Displays available for reservations. We only have a limited amount so please sign up soon if you're interested in reserving one. Click here to learn more about sugary drink display reservations!