May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a chance to recognize the importance of mental health and the impacts it can have on the whole body – including oral health. There is a growing body of research documenting the links between oral health and mental health and how they interact. This month, KOHC is highlighting this mind to mouth connection and why mental health matters in dentistry.   Mental health can drive oral health outcomes in a [...]

Oral health is a crucial component of overall health and well-being, yet it is often overlooked. In Kentucky, like many other states, oral health is a pressing concern. Poor oral health has been linked to a range of serious health conditions, including heart disease and diabetes. Throughout 2023, Kentucky Oral Health Coalition (KOHC) is conducting an oral health landscape assessment to better understand the current state of oral health in Kentucky.  The purpose of this [...]

In the wake of SB 65, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) filed new regulations to reinstate the expanded dental benefits for adults on Medicaid in Kentucky. KOHC is supportive of these proposed regulations and has submitted public comments which you can read below.   We need your voice to support the reinstatement of expanded Medicaid adult dental benefits! Advocates can show their support through public comments on the regulations, by speaking at the [...]

April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month, which aims to raise awareness about the importance of early detection and prevention of oral cancer. Oral cancer is a type of cancer that develops in the mouth, tongue, lips, and throat. It can be a serious and life-threatening disease if not detected and treated early.  Regular oral cancer screening is important to detect signs of cancer early. Oral cancer screening is a simple and painless process that involves [...]

As we wrap up the 2023 legislative session, Kentucky Oral Health Coalition is recapping an item of particular interest among the oral health community – the adult Medicaid dental expansion and Senate Bill 65.   How did we get here?   In October 2022, Governor Beshear announced an expansion of the dental, vision, and hearing benefits available for adults on Medicaid. This change included several new dental services covered for adults. The additions were largely restorative procedures [...]

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, a time to remember the important role everyone plays in keeping communities safe for kids to grow and thrive. Oral health professionals play a unique and important role in the prevention, recognition, and reporting of child maltreatment, including neglect. During April, KOHC continues our work with Delta Dental of Kentucky and the Face It Movement to equip oral health professionals with the tools they need to keep kids safe in their offices and [...]

Kentucky Oral Health Coalition is celebrating Nutrition Month during March to promote healthy eating habits and raise awareness about the importance of proper nutrition. Nutrition plays a crucial role in maintaining overall health, including oral health. Poor nutrition can lead to a variety of oral health problems, including tooth decay, gum disease, and bad breath. In addition to the foods they eat, what children drink can also have a significant impact on their teeth. The drink [...]

This post originally appeared as an op-ed in the Courier Journal on March 8th, 2023. On January 1, 2023, a new provision went into effect in Kentucky ensuring Medicaid adult beneficiaries in the state have comprehensive dental coverage. Advocates in Kentucky have long fought for this coverage because it helps narrow the health care equity gap for more than 900,000 underserved Kentuckians. This is a significant victory for many low-income adults and people with disabilities [...]

  The Kentucky Oral Health Coalition is dedicated to ensuring meaningful access to oral health care for all Kentuckians. While we recognize the process allowing for this expansion may warrant a worthy debate, we believe the decision to expand adult Medicaid dental benefits will improve oral health outcomes for our most vulnerable Kentuckians – including those with substance use disorders and pregnant women. We know that expanding the available benefits alone is not enough to [...]

As we continue to celebrate National Children’s Dental Health Month, KOHC is recognizing the unique needs of children diagnosed with a Special Health Care Need (SHCN). SHCN is defined as any physical, developmental, mental, sensory, behavioral, cognitive, or emotional impairment or limiting condition that requires medical management, health care intervention, and/or use of specialized services or programs. Nearly one in five U.S. children have a SHCN. Special health care needs can range in severity and [...]