Georgia Dentists Turn to Southern Example for Medicaid Solution

Like any discerning principal, Shirley Chesser doesn't take the response she's given at face value _ instead, she needs to see a smile first.

"Let me see," she says, looking at a student's teeth after a checkup by the mobile dental group Help A Child Smile at her suburban Atlanta school.

Twice a year, the Conyers, Ga.-based dental group rolls up to Peek's Chapel Elementary School in an air-conditioned vehicle that's complete with an X-ray machine and four dental stations to perform checkups. It makes return trips as needed to fill cavities or other procedures for students.

But the future of the dental group, which mainly serves children on Medicaid, is uncertain after two of Georgia's three managed care organizations announced they will soon end their contracts with two large dental care providers. And the crisis has Georgia health officials state looking to other Southern states for advice.

Peach State Health Plan and WellCare said earlier this month they are terminating contracts with the group and another large dental provider called Kool Smiles, affecting more than 110,000 children.

The state's dental association says Georgia needs a system similar to other Southern states to make sure tens of thousands of children are properly served. Instead of several organizations handling dental services for Medicaid children, other states run their services through a single administrator that keeps them separate from other medical care.

"Virginia and Tennessee are prime examples of states that had managed care programs _ and quite honestly, they didn't work for dentistry," said Martha Phillips, executive director for the Georgia Dental Association.

But the association's views are divisive, and one care management organization said it was flawed. The state's Department of Community Health, through spokeswoman Amanda Seals, even declined to comment on the proposal.

"There's plenty of access," said David Bear, a spokesman for Peach State Health Plan. He advocated for a "holistic approach" that combines coverage for dental care with other medical services under Medicaid.

Tennessee faced a similar problem with its dental program in the 1990s. Managed care organizations unfamiliar with how to provide dental care for Medicaid children created confusing restrictions and scared away potential providers, said David Horvat, executive director of the Tennessee Dental Association.

But the program was revamped in 2001, when dentists began signing up under a single company that reimburses Medicaid-related services accepted by dental providers. As the system's credibility has grown, so has the Medicaid providers list _ from 200 to about 800, Horvat said.

"Before, the phone rang off the hook with calls," he said. "We went from one of the worst scenarios in the country to one of the best."

The Virginia Dental Association also fielded complaints from dentists unhappy with the state's seven managed care organizations _ a system that executive director Dr. Terry Dickinson called "miserable."

In July 2005, the state's Medicaid dental services for children was handed over to a single administrator. A task force of dentists and state Medicaid officials watch over the program and look at how many children are treated and whether reimbursement rates are adequate.

"It was designed by dentists for the dentists," said Cheryl Roberts of the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services. "In 'Smiles For Children,' we increased the (reimbursement) rate, consolidated the program and changed every piece of it. There's nothing left of the original."

In Georgia, Phillips said state officials and legislators who have met with the dental association have expressed interest in adopting a single-administrator system similar to the programs in Tennessee and Virginia.

"They don't want to see our dental system go belly up," she said.

Chesser, the Conyers principal, also is hopeful the mobile dental clinics will continue to roll up to her school.

"To know our children are getting this at least twice a year is very reassuring to me," she says. "I hope it will continue."

Health and Dental Fair will Serve the Under-Served

DULUTH, GA (July 10, 2007) -Local residents without health or dental insurance will get a special helping hand when First Baptist Church Duluth hosts an outreach event in August.

The MEET (Medical Evangelistic Extension Team) FBCD event, on Saturday, August 25, will feature a free health and dental fair for the under-served in the community, as well as a yard sale. The all-day event, which begins at 8 a.m., will be on the grounds of the church, 2908 Highway 120 in Duluth.

"We'll offer basic health testing for those without health insurance in our community: blood pressure, cholesterol and hearing checks, as well as basic dental care such as cleanings, extractions and restorations," says Tom Jones of Duluth, an FBCD member who, with his wife Nancy, is coordinating the health and dental fair. "We're doing this to share the love of God by helping people. It helps people understand that God loves them, also."

Those interested in dental care are advised to come to the church on Friday, August 24 for a pre-screening and to set up a Saturday dental appointment.

The community yard sale, in the FBCD parking lot, will offer a variety of household items. "We welcome donations of non-clothing items on the morning of the event," says Harriet Carnes of Suwanee, who's coordinating the sale.

Proceeds from the yard sale will support, in part, the ministry of Camp Pinnacle, says Carnes, who also belongs to FBCD. Camp Pinnacle is a retreat and conference center for adults and youth, located outside the town of Clayton in the north Georgia mountains. "The camp is an exciting place where girls make new friends, learn about God and His plan for each life and the world, explore new cultures, interact with missionaries and have lots of fun!" Carnes says.

Yard sale proceeds also will support various ethnic congregations of the Georgia Baptists, assisting with medical and dental benefits for language pastors, as well as training, tuition, textbooks and more for higher education for language pastors and lay leadership.

Though the church has held community yard sales in the past through its Woman's Missionary Union group, the MEET FBCD event with the health and dental fair is the first of its kind for the congregation.

"First Baptist Duluth has always sought to be a vital and contributing part of the community of people where God has placed us in His ministry," says David Parker of Suwanee, pastor of FBCD. "Our 'world mission vision' begins right here at home. This MEET FBCD event is just one more wonderful opportunity to continue that commitment. The spirit and activities of MEET fit so well with our church's functional motto ... 'Love God! Love people! Serve others!'"

For more information on the MEET FBCD outreach event, contact Carnes at (770) 945-4171 or Jones at (770) 814-8753. You can also visit the church's website, www.duluthbaptist.org

Top 10 Things to Know About Your Dental Hygienist

These days, a visit with your dental hygienist may result in more benefits than just cleaner teeth and healthier gums -- you might even decide to stop smoking, improve your nutrition or check to see if you might be at risk for diabetes.

"Most people simply don't realize just how educated and skilled their dental hygienists are," said Susan McLearan, president of the California Dental Hygienists' Association (CDHA). "The profession has evolved to the point where we actually can save lives."

In keeping with its mission to raise public awareness about dental health and to promote the value of seeing a dental hygienist, the association has issued the following list of the Top Ten Things Californians Should Know About Their Dental Hygienists.

"The list is intended to show how dental hygienists play such an integral role in overall public health -- in many different ways and on many different levels."

That role is reflected in the following facts about Registered Dental
Hygienists (RDH):

1. Highly Educated Professionals -- The minimum level of education for licensure is equivalent to a four-year degree with two years specializing in dental hygiene.

2. Committed to Expanding Access to Care -- Specially licensed hygienists can go into underserved communities and provide dental hygiene services to some of the millions of Californians who would otherwise have no access to dental care.

3. Screen for Oral Cancer -- Dental hygienists possess the skills to be the first health professional to identify potential signs of oral cancer and refer a patient to a physician.

4. Promote Healthy Nutrition -- Dental hygienists can tell if a patient is eating poorly or is malnourished; they can then offer helpful advice and information.

5. Spot Signs of Eating Disorders -- Also related to nutritional issues, eating disorders can also be recognized in the mouth during a check up.

6. Recognize Signs of Diabetes -- Dental hygienists can alert patients that they might be in danger from diabetes, and refer them to seek confirmation from a medical doctor.

7. Promote Smoking Cessation -- When examining patients who smoke tobacco, dental hygienists often will counsel them to quit and provide resources and information about steps they can take to stop smoking.

8. Prevent Gum and Periodontal Disease -- By cleaning and examining teeth and gums, dental hygienists play a major role in preventing common oral diseases.

9. Understand the Link Between Oral Health and Emotional Health in Children -- Dental hygienists are passionate about promoting good oral health among children, who can often suffer speech impediments, social ridicule, diminished self esteem and other problems related to poor oral health.

10. Represented by CDHA, the Official Voice of Dental Hygiene -- Since CDHA was established 20 years ago, dental hygienists have been making continuous strides toward becoming the skilled, autonomous and essential public health professionals that they are today.

Furthermore, dental hygienists are qualified to detect a wide range of other life-threatening conditions, including high blood pressure and HIV.

"The items on our list really underscore that the mouth is a window into a person's comprehensive health," said CDHA's McLearan. "And because the average person sees a hygienist more often than a physician, it is especially important for people to understand the many facets and benefits of the dental hygiene profession."

The California Dental Hygienists' Association (CDHA) is the authoritative voice of the state's dental hygiene profession. While registered dental hygienists have worked in the state for nearly a century, CDHA was established 20 years ago when two regional associations merged to form a unified professional group. CDHA represents thousands of dental hygienists throughout the state and is dedicated to expanding opportunities for the
profession and access to care for all Californians.

Source: California Dental Hygienists' Association