Addressing Disabled in Oral Health care/web conference

[Guest guest]

ASTDD: Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors

Web Conference Overview

For individuals with special needs, especially those

with complex medical needs or uncooperative behaviors, dental care is difficult

to access. In fact, among children with special health care needs (CSHCN), oral

health care has been identified as the most prevalent unmet health need

(National Survey of CSHCN, 2001). Dentists often lack the appropriate training

or skills necessary to treat these adults and children, a problem which is

compounded by an inadequate supply of dental providers in many areas. Some

States have worked to improve access to oral health services for individuals

with special needs and disabilities by implementing innovative approaches

through their Medicaid programs.

With support from the Maternal and Child Health Bureau,

the Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors (ASTDD) is hosting

this web conference to inform the oral health, MCH, and primary care communities

about Medicaid approaches being used to enhance access to individuals with

special needs. The program will open with a brief introduction from the

President-Elect at ASTDD who will explain why access to dental care is a special

concern for persons with special needs, especially CSHCN. This will be followed

by two State presentations. A clinician from a dental clinic serving persons

with developmental disabilities and mental retardation will speak about how New

Mexico is providing enhanced Medicaid reimbursement rates for specially trained

dental providers. Next, the Chief Dental Officer for the Pennsylvania Medicaid

Program and the administrator of a special care dental clinic will then describe

their work with Medicaid managed care organizations to open a dental facility

that exclusively treats patients with special needs. After these presentations,

there will be an opportunity to address questions to the presenters, at which

point we will be joined by the Dental Director for the New Mexico Medicaid

Program.

ASTDD Central Office: 322 Cannondale Rd. Jefferson City, MO 65109

Telephone: Fax:

----------

No virus found in this outgoing message.

Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.

Version: 7.0.338 / Virus Database: 267.9.7/60 - Release Date: 7/28/2005