273201 Ensuring Children's Timely Access to Oral Health Care in California

Monday, October 29, 2012 : 1:15 PM - 1:35 PM

Eileen Espejo, Director, Media & Health Policy , Children Now, Oakland, CA
     
This presentation will discuss recent state efforts and legislation to improve children's timely access to oral health care, including stakeholder processes to address low utilization rates, and the upcoming transition of nearly 900,000 children from California's CHIP dental managed care program to the state's Denti-Cal fee-for-service system. Discussion will also include completed and pending work with the California Health Benefit Exchange to ensure enrolled children will have access to quality oral health benefits.

Learning Areas:
Communication and informatics
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Provision of health care to the public
Public health administration or related administration
Public health or related laws, regulations, standards, or guidelines
Public health or related public policy

Learning Objectives:
Describe recent actions taken by state agencies and dental health plans in reaction to low dental utilization rates in two California counties Discuss impact of stakeholder processes and actions taken by dental plans to improve utilization rates and how these actions could apply to development of pediatric oral health action plan (as called for by CMS) Explain advocacy efforts taken to date to engage with CA HBEX regarding oral health benefits for children

Keywords: Health Care Politics, Access and Services

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I direct policy and advocacy efforts to ensure publically-insured children’s timely access to oral health services through convening the CA Children’s Oral Health Workgroup, comprised of field experts and representatives from state agencies, dental health plans, the California Dental Association, providers and several advocacy groups. I also serve on the permanent steering committee for the Oral Health Access Council, a multi-lateral, non-partisan effort to improve oral health outcomes for California’s underserved and vulnerable populations.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 3255.0: What’s New in Health Care Reform and How Does It Affect Oral Health In Our Country?