Emergent Care

Upcoming community events … dental and more

Date: January 21, 2014
Author: Dawn Jacobs
Categories: Adult Dental, Affordable Care Act, Chidren's Dental, Child Dental, Emergent Care, Medicaid, Oral Health Strategies, Volunteer Dental Care

Pierce County residents have many opportunities in January and February to connect with health, oral health, and personal care resources. Please spread the word about these wonderful PCOHC-member sponsored events:

  • Project Homeless Connect – Spanaway: Health care enrollment, dental, medical and other personal care services, Jan. 25, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Spanaway Middle School, 15701 B Street E.
  • Children’s Dental Health Day – Puyallup South Hill Mall: Free dental screenings, mobile dental van, community resources, and much more, Feb. 22, 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

 

Oral health procedures to be covered by adult dental Medicaid starting in January

Date: December 13, 2013
Author: Dawn Jacobs
Categories: Adult Dental, Emergent Care, Medicaid

State health officials have released additional information concerning dental procedures that will be covered for Medicaid-eligible adults in Washington state, starting on Jan. 1, 2014.

An update on those procedures was recently shared at November meeting of the Washington Coalition on Medicaid Outreach by Dianne Baum, dental program manager for the Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA). The covered procedures include exams, X-rays, cleanings, fluoride varnish, fillings, periodontal care, root canals, dentures, extractions, and emergency services. Crowns will not be covered.

See the presentation for more details and the HCA’s news release from Oct. 10, 2013.

Starting in January, the Washington Medicaid Program will resume covering dental services for all adults with Medicaid. This includes residents who already have Medicaid and people who are eligible for “expanded Medicaid,” made possible by federal health care reform.

Partners in Action at Project Homeless Connect, October 2013

Date: November 6, 2013
Author: Dawn Jacobs
Categories: Adult Dental, Emergent Care, Volunteer Dental Care

Pierce County Oral Health Coalition members returned to the Tacoma Dome on Oct. 23, 2013, to deliver oral health services to hundreds attending the recent Project Homeless Connect. Coalition members from a variety of Pierce County organizations, as well as individual dentists, volunteered their time to triage dental needs, provide oral health assessments, do cleanings, take X-rays, and offer restorative and  denture work, among other services. The majority of those who received services that day had unmet dental needs, received care to deal with urgent issues, and were referred to community resources for follow-up care as available.

Thank you to all of our oral health Partners in Action for their commitment to make oral health services accessible to all residents of Pierce County, and for volunteering their time and resources to events such as Project Homeless Connect.