usadental

Monday, October 30, 2006

Kentucky Medicaid boosts dental care

Kentucky's Medicaid plan lately announced a refurbishing of its dental program, with increased payments to dentists who treat low-income patients may be younger than 21 and doubling the number of preventive visits the patients could receive each year.

Starting in August, dentists have received 30 percent increase in reimbursement for giving treatment for children covered by Medicaid or the Kentucky Children's Health Insurance Plan. Patients could also get two preventive dental visits a year instead of one.

Tuesday, October 24, 2006

2.3 million Can't afford dental care: ACOSS

The Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) has called on the Federal Government to give more free dental care.

Its latest report has also found that the joint state and federal oral health plan has poorly failed to deliver better access to services.

ACOSS says 2.3 million Australians now cannot afford the dental care they need to have.

Executive director Andrew Johnson says the Commonwealth should fund basic dental care for more low-income earners.

Monday, October 23, 2006

Dental Care for Low Income People in Australia

At least 500,000 low income Australians are on coming up lists for accessing public dental care, said the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) as it released a report on the state of dental care.

"Federal and State governments now agreed on a National Oral Health Plan in 2004 that would improve access to dental services. Since then, new investment by State, Territory and Commonwealth Governments has been very low to make an important impact. With a large Federal Budget surplus, now is the time for more income to be put into implementing this plan so people can fix their teeth when they need it."

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

State Medicaid requires funds for Dental Care

LITTLE ROCK, AR - State Medicaid officials needs to bring dental services back in the program, a move, which can reinstate a cut made in the late 1980s.

Medicaid officials are asking for $2.7 million in extra state funding to get back the plan service.

Since the dental services were cut down, Medicaid has paid only for removals in extreme situations, such as to battle a life-threatening infection or also when teeth are extremely deteriorated.

Friday, October 06, 2006

HPCHC grant funds dental care for pregnant women

The High Plains Community Health Center (HPCHC) is now participating in a Bureau of Primary Health Care pilot project, which focuses on oral health care as it also relates to birth outcomes.

According to HPCHC's Executive Director Jay Brooke, "findings from research charge the relationship of oral health and pregnant women reveals pregnant women with gum disease at age between 21 to 24 weeks were 4.5 times more likely to have a preterm birth and seven times more likely to have a very preterm birth compared to women who had healthy gums."

Thursday, October 05, 2006

Free dental care plan for uninsured

NEWPORT NEWS -- A two-day dental clinic would bring free care to hundreds of low-income residents existing week, part of an effort to plan a permanent regional program for dental care.

Peninsula Community Dental Days, set on Friday and Saturday, would gather at least 15 volunteer dentists at a free clinic in Newport News. More than 300 patients have pre-registered anyhow the clinic would take as many walk-ins as possible. Services would include cleanings, fillings and extractions.

Wednesday, October 04, 2006

Survey fuels calls for national dental care scheme

The Health Services Union (HSU) is asking help from the Federal Government to cover dental care for children and for those over 65 under Medicare.

The HSU commissioned a survey of 1,200 Australians and the study found the majority believe people need to be able to claim rebates on dental bills.

Public dental services are run by state governments, but anyhow HSU national secretary Craig Thomson says people are waiting up to five years for treatment.

"The only way to properly have a scheme in place is to extend Medicare so that you can take advantage of the private sector dentists that are out there and make sure that they're being properly utilized in the same way that doctors are under Medicare at the moment," he said.

Tuesday, October 03, 2006

1,700 Get Free Dental Cares Saturday in G.I

A dental care program that provided free dental care attracted more than 1,700 people in Grand Island today.

Organizers say more than $650,000 in free dental care was provided at the Heartland Event center at Fonner Park. Services ranging from teeth cleanings to tooth extractions were also provided. More than 150 dentists participated.

Last year the first Mission of Mercy was held in North Platte. More than $350,000 in free dental care was given to more than 900 patients.

The plan was started to favor the children and adults who typically can't afford dental care.