In this issue:

OVERVIEW OF THE 2006 LEGISLATIVE SESSION

The 2006 legislative session has been wrapped up for a few weeks now, and it proved to be a successful session for oral health. Here is a summary of what happened: HCR 5038: The concurrent resolution expressed the House and Senate's support for the creation of an Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) residency program to benefit the state of Kansas. The resolution

AEGD residency program: The Legislature appropriated $415,000 each year for three years for the creation of the residency program. In addition to the legislative appropriation, nearly $800,000 has been raised in private funds. The AEGD Committee continues to work diligently to get the program started and plans to have a first class of residents in August 2008. The program will be affiliated with Wichita State University, Via Christi Hospital, and will primarily be located at the GraceMed Dental Clinic.

Adult dental coverage for individuals on HCBS waivers: The Legislature appropriated a little over $5 million ($2 million in state general funds) to provide regular dental coverage for individuals receiving services through Home and Community-Based Service (HCBS) waiver programs, including developmental disabilities, physical disabilities and head injuries. It is our understanding that the coverage will begin around the first of the year.

Community Based Primary Care Clinics: The Governor of Kansas included $1 million in new operating funding to increase access to primary health care services, including oral health services, for community based primary care clinics in the 2006-2007 budget. The Legislature approved the funding. This funding will not only increase access to primary health care services but are the first step in creating "dental hubs." Dental "hubs" are operated by primary care safety net clinics in key geographic areas to increase access to oral health care services for underserved populations, including children covered by Medicaid/HealthWave.

Please help us by taking a minute to thank the legislators listed below who were particularly helpful to us this last year--they all deserve a big thank you from us. Please take a minute to contact the following and thank them for their support of oral health this session.

(Their email addresses are included here, but you will find additional contact information at www.kslegislature.org. Toward the bottom of the page, look under "Hot Items" and then under the House and Senate rosters.)

House Health & Human Service (HCR 5038):
Rep. Jim Morrison, Colby, Chairman
morrison@house.state.ks.us
Rep. Mario Goico, Wichita
goico@house.state.ks.us

House Appropriations (AEGD program and dental coverage for individuals on HCBS waivers):
Rep. Melvin Neufeld, Ingalls, Chairman
neufeld@house.state.ks.us
Rep. Brenda Landwehr, Wichita, Chairperson for Social Services Subcommittee
landwehr@house.state.ks.us

Senate Ways & Means (AEGD program and dental coverage for individuals on HCBS waivers):
Sen. Dwayne Umbarger, Thayer, Chairman
umbarger@senate.state.ks.us
Sen. Vicki Schmidt, Topeka, Chairperson for KDHE Subcommittee
schmidt@senate.state.ks.us

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DENTAL CHAMPIONS LEADERSHIP PROGRAM: 2006-2007 CLASS MEMBERS ANNOUNCED

In 2005, Oral Health Kansas created a leadership program with the goal of developing a strong statewide network of leaders with a progressive vision of oral health improvement in Kansas. With the help of an advisory committee, 18 class members were selected, and the class met several times over the period of about one year. The inaugural class recently completed its training in April.

An advisory committee has finalized the participant selection process for the second year, and the following individuals have been chosen to participate in the 2006-2007 Dental Champions Leadership Class: Denice Curtis, Clinical Director, KAMU, Topeka Kathy Weno, Dental Director, KDHE, Topeka Krista Postai, CEO, SEK Community Health, Pittsburg Lisa House, RDH, Goodland Junetta Everett, Delta Dental, Wichita Lisa Benlon, Director of Governmental Relations, American Cancer Society, Mission Tina Payne, Executive Director, Health Ministries Clinic, Newton Carla Gibson, Program Officer, REACH Foundation, Mission

• Denise Maseman, Department Chair, Wichita State University Dental Hygiene Program, Wichita
  

EXTENDED CARE PERMIT TOOLKIT NOW AVAILABLE ON THE WEB The NRC released its report, Fluoride in Drinking Water: A Scientific Review of EPA's Standard, on March 22, 2006. The purpose of this report is to provide recommendations to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on whether the current maximum contaminant level goal (MCLG) of 4 mg/L protects children and others from adverse health effects. The NRC committee did not examine the health risks or benefits of water at the levels recommended for fluoridation of water to prevent tooth decay. The current range for water fluoridation of community water systems is 0.7 to 1.2 ppm (equivalent to 0.7-1.2 mg/L). Water that has fluoride at these levels is safe and effective for preventing tooth decay.

For more information on the NRC report, or for the latest, accurate information on community water fluoridation, please visit the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website by clicking here. Back to menu

CITIZENS' HEALTH CARE WORKING GROUP RELEASES RECOMMENDATIONS

From the American Heart Association:

The Alliance for a Healthier Generation - a joint initiative of the William J. Clinton Foundation and the American Heart Association - has worked with representatives of Cadbury Schweppes, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and the American Beverage Association to establish new guidelines to limit portion sizes and reduce the number of calories available to children during the school day. Under these guidelines, only lower calorie and nutritious beverages will be sold to schools. This is the Alliance's first industry agreement as part of its Healthy Schools Program, and it affects close to 35 million students across the country. Read more. . . Back to menu

CHILDREN & ADOLESCENTS WITH SPECIAL HEALTH CARE NEEDS: ORAL HEALTH RESOURCES AVAILABLE

The National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center (OHRC) has produced two new resources -- a policy brief and an online learning tool -- to assist professionals working to improve oral health services for children and adolescents with special health care needs.

Promoting the Oral Health of Children with Special Health Care Needs -- In Support of the National Agenda (policy brief) provides suggestions for oral health promotion activities that are consistent with the National Agenda for Children with Special Health Care Needs.

The brief addresses the six critical indicators of a comprehensive system of care identified by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau:

(1) medical home
(2) insurance coverage
(3) screening
(4) organization of services
(5) family roles
(6) transition to adulthood The brief is available at http://www.mchoralhealth.org/PDFs/CSHCNPolicyBrief.pdf

Special Care: An Oral Health Professional's Guide to Serving Young Children with Special Health Care Needs is a Web-based curriculum developed to provide oral health professionals (dentists and dental hygienists) with information to ensure that young children with special health care needs have access to health-promotion and disease-prevention services that address their unique oral health needs in a comprehensive, family-centered, and community-based manner.

The curriculum includes five modules:

(1) An Overview of Children with Special Health Care Needs
(2) Providing Optimal Oral Health Care
(3) Oral Health Supervision
(4) Prevention of Oral Disease
(5) Behavior Management

The curriculum is available at http://www.mchoralhealth.org/SpecialCare

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BECOME A ORAL HEALTH KANSAS MEMBER TODAY Please join us in improving the oral health status of all Kansas citizens. Privileges of membership: Opportunity to participate in the OHK annual meeting. Subscription to the OHK electronic newsletter, which includes information on state and national oral health initiatives and activities as well as legislative updates and alerts throughout the legislative session. Legislative, Executive and Administrative Branch and community advocacy representation. Opportunity to participate in coalition committees and other work groups. Discounted rates for OHK training and/or other events or educational opportunities.

Types of membership: Sustaining Member (Above $500): Consider making an additional gift to Oral Health Kansas to support us in achieving our mission. Corporate Member ($500): Open to for-profit entities, corporations, businesses, consultants, vendors or institutions that support oral health issues or provide oral health services. Associate Member ($100): Open to not-for-profit or public entities or organizations that support oral health projects or provide oral health services. Individual Member ($25): Open to any individual who is interested in oral health issues. You can download a membership application from our website at www.oralhealthkansas.org. Back to menu