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 [...]

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month. Children’s dental health was first officially recognized in Cleveland, Ohio in 1941 for one day - February 3rd - the observation grew to a week in 1955. Since then, National Children’s Dental Health Month has brought together thousands of dedicated professionals, healthcare providers, and educators to promote the benefits of good oral health to children, their caregivers, teachers and many others. In 2022, the Kentucky legislature recognized the [...]

As we ring in the new year, KOHC is excited to begin our work advocating for policies that support optimal oral health for all. At the December Annual Meeting, Coalition members voted on the policy agenda for the 2023 Kentucky General Assembly, prioritizing the following efforts:   Protect community water fluoridation programs by ensuring understanding of the importance of these programs as a preventive dental and public health measure   Reduce youth vaping and tobacco use by establishing [...]

On December 2, 2022 KOHC members and oral health stakeholders from around the state came together for the Kentucky Oral Health Coalition Annual Meeting. We kicked off the meeting by hearing from the meeting Signature Sponsor, Aetna Better Health of Kentucky.   Participants heard a presentation from JoAnn Gurenlian, RDH, MS, PhD, AFAAOM, on the dental workforce shortage. JoAnn covered topics including the number of providers in the workforce before, during, and after the height of [...]

The Kentucky Oral Health Coalition (KOHC) is a statewide coalition of over 450 members and oral health stakeholders from every region of the Commonwealth. Membership includes dentists, dental hygienists, health professionals, family resource center coordinators, universities, managed care companies, business corporations, government entities, teachers, parents, educators, social workers, public health departments, community health advocates and many others. On behalf of  KOHC, we are writing this letter in response to the proposed regulation 201 KAR 8:601 [...]

For optimal well-being, children need thriving communities that support strong families, good health, protection from harm, economic security, and a high-quality education. The 2022 Kentucky KIDS COUNT County Data Book features the latest data on 16 measures of child well-being, showing whether outcomes for children across the Commonwealth have improved, worsened, or stayed the same over a five-year period. While the COVID-19 pandemic has continued to impact many families in ways that do not yet show up [...]

November is Diabetes Awareness Month, a time to recognize the chronic illness that nearly 10% of the US population lives with, and the impacts diabetes can have on the body. Diabetes is a condition that effects the body’s ability to process sugar resulting from unstable levels of a hormone called insulin. In addition to the effects this has on the body, diabetes also impacts the mouth and can play a role in an individual’s oral [...]

October is National Substance Use Prevention Month and as the month comes to an end, KOHC is recognizing the important role dental professionals play in substance use prevention and treatment. KOHC heard from Dr. William E. Collins about the connection between substance use disorder (SUD) and oral health. He serves as the Dental Director at Red Bird Clinic, Inc in Beverly, Kentucky.   Here’s what Dr. Collins had to say about the role of oral health [...]