Webinar: Medicaid and CHIP: Dental Health Coverage Provides Families with Peace of Mind (2/14/24)

The webinar begins with Helen Gaynor's introduction, setting the stage for the discussion on the importance of dental health for children, especially in relation to Medicaid and CHIP coverage. She highlights the prevalence of tooth decay among children and its impact on their overall development and school attendance. The connection between dental health and mental health is also mentioned, emphasizing the need to address these issues holistically. Helen introduces the panel of experts who will share their insights on children's oral health and the best practices for outreach and enrollment in Medicaid and CHIP.

Dr. Natalia Chalmers provides an overview of the Oral Health Cross-Cutting Initiative launched by CMS, aiming to expand access to oral health coverage using existing authorities and health plan flexibilities. She discusses the significant role of Medicaid in covering dental services for children and its status as the largest payer for mental health services. Dr. Chalmers also touches on the challenges faced by beneficiaries in accessing dental care, including the impact of mental health conditions on oral hygiene and the need for comprehensive dental coverage to alleviate these issues.

The discussion shifts to the barriers that families face in accessing dental care, with a focus on the findings from a human-centered design engagement conducted by CMS. These barriers include provider challenges such as hiring difficulties and the need for real-time data to understand patient needs. Patients' experiences, such as long wait times and the difficulty of finding dental specialists, are also highlighted. The presentation emphasizes the importance of addressing these barriers to improve access to preventive dental services and overall health outcomes.

Dr. Tim Ricks from the Indian Health Service discusses the bidirectional relationship between oral health and mental health, particularly focusing on how depression in parents or caregivers can affect children's oral health. He explains that depression can lead to poor oral hygiene in adults, which can then be transmitted to children, and that children with depressed parents are less likely to receive dental care. The Indian Health Service's efforts to integrate depression screening into dental programs are highlighted as a strategy to address this issue.

Marla Smith-Brown from Seedco emphasizes the importance of partnerships in promoting dental health, particularly in the context of the Connecting Kids to Coverage program. She discusses the various initiatives and programs run by Seedco, including mobile dental clinics and collaborations with local entities to raise awareness about oral health. The significance of observing Children's Dental Health Month and the need for year-round education and treatment is also stressed.

Yoselyn Ayon from Aliados Health shares the outreach strategies employed in California to raise awareness about dental health and the services offered by Medi-Cal. She discusses the use of the Smile California portal, which provides resources for both patients and community organizations. Yoselyn also highlights the importance of mobile clinics, community events, and partnerships with schools and food banks in reaching underserved populations and promoting dental health services.

Helen outlines the resources available from the Connecting Kids to Coverage Campaign, which aims to encourage enrollment in Medicaid and CHIP and raise awareness about the covered services. She discusses the campaign's annual initiatives tied to key times of the year and the variety of outreach resources available, including digital videos, infographics, posters, and more. The importance of customizable materials and the campaign's efforts to ensure continuous enrollment in Medicaid and CHIP are also highlighted.