Oral health is an essential component to the overall health and well-being of children and their families. Given our historic issues with poor oral health in Kentucky, we have made strides towards improvement in oral health by increasing access and preventive services. These are reasons why Kentucky Oral Health Coalition executive committee members are glad to see the Bevin Administration’s commitment to restore an essential benefit, such as dental coverage, to Medicaid expansion adults retroactive to July [...]

We are sharing an update regarding an email we sent out yesterday about unintentional denial of Medicaid-eligible beneficiaries. Kentucky's Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) has informed us the Department for Medicaid Services (DMS) has NOT changed any policies relating to the eligibility of pregnant women and children and the denials were related to confusion created by unfamiliarity with the new platform and the hasty transition. CHFS has identified examples where providers have misinterpreted computer screen eligibility [...]

July 5, 2018 - Statement Contact: Mahak Kalra mkalra@kyyouth.org 502-895-8167 *114 Kentucky Oral Health Coalition Statement on Errors in Denying Dental Care for Children and Pregnant Women Louisville, KY – We have heard directly from multiple KOHC dental providers across the state that Medicaid changes over the past few days have resulted in the denial of routine dental care of eligible children and pregnant women. Though these populations were supposed to be protected from coverage changes, errors have meant that children who [...]

On Friday, the federal court blocked the implementation of the Medicaid 1115 waiver, known as Kentucky HEALTH. In response to the Medicaid ruling on Kentucky HEALTH, the Bevin administration announced that Medicaid expansion adults no longer be offered the ability to purchase dental and vision services through their My Rewards account effective July 1, 2018. The Kentucky Oral Health Coalition’s executive committee firmly believes the inclusion of dental coverage should be a key component in [...]

For the last few weeks, the Kentucky Oral Health coalition has highlighted three Bright Spots in Kentucky that improve oral health literacy, deliver school-based services, or improve access to care within the state. Today, we celebrate Madison County Health Department (MCHD), the Bright Spots committee's 4th and final nomination of the year. MCHD was created to bring dental health to students in Madison County Schools. Marsha Deaton, the creator of this nominated Bright Spot program, [...]

As we kick off our third week of Bright Spots acknowledgments, it's clear that there are many oral health influencers who strive to improve oral health literacy, deliver school-based services, and improve accessible care to all throughout the state. This week the KOHC Bright Spots Committee recognizes the Louisville Dental Society (LDS).  LDS free dental van clinic has been in service for two years. The dental van clinic is unique because they rotate among 3-4 areas to provide [...]

The Kentucky Oral Health Coalition's celebration of Bright Spot champions continues with our second recognition. The Bright Spot Committee is pleased to recognize Community Dental Clinic. Community Dental Clinic was established in 2010 in Owensboro, Kentucky. Mission/Vision: Community Dental Clinic was established to offer care to children and adults in our communities struggling to receive dental services. The Community Dental Clinic provides free dental health education and dental screenings for students at schools in the community. There [...]

Last summer for the first time members of the Kentucky Oral Health Coalition were asked to nominate "Bright Spots"  in their community. Bright Spots are classified as organizations, projects, coalitions, schools, programs, models, or initiatives that target, address, and/or invest in key oral health priorities for people in Kentucky of every age group, geographic location, race and ethnicity with an emphasis on equity for low-income adults and children. In the fall, Bright Spot nominee applications were reviewed and the [...]

https://vimeo.com/263439509/bb2e69610e https://youtu.be/83CxQFZcEAc Delta Dental of Kentucky is investing in four regions across Kentucky to help improve oral health among children in the Commonwealth. Each region within the state has a unique set of oral health outcomes, and these regional investments provide a localized solution to improving the oral health status of children in each community. This program is the result of state research findings published in the Making Smiles Happen: 2016 Oral Health Study of Kentucky’s [...]

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month! What started as a one-day event in Cleveland, Ohio in 1941 has evolved into a month-long celebration! This year’s slogan is “Brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste and clean between your teeth for a healthy smile.” Did you know that not flossing causes you to miss cleaning 40% of your tooth surfaces? Or that poor dental health can negatively impact children’s speech, growth, social development, and lead to more missed days [...]