Maryland Dental Action Coalition Inc

DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN STATEWIDE PARTNERSHIP OF INDIVIDUALS COMMITTED TO IMPROVED HEALTH AMONG ALL MARYLANDERS THROUGH INCREASED ORAL HEALTH PREVENTION, EDUCATION, ADVOCACY AND ACCESS TO DENTAL CARE.

MEDICAID ADULT DENTAL COVERAGE OUTREACH AND EDUCATION CAMPAIGN - STARTING ON JANUARY 1, 2023, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OVER 30 YEARS IN MARYLAND, ANY ADULT AGED 21 YEARS AND OLDER IN MARYLAND MEDICAID HAS COMPREHENSIVE DENTAL COVERAGE. AS A RESULT, MDACS DEVELOPED AND IMPLEMENTED A CAMPAIGN TO AUGMENT AND ENSURE THE SUCCESS OF MEDICAID EXPANSION PROGRAM CENTERED ON STAKEHOLDER AND CONSUMER OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT. THE FOUR PRINCIPAL STRATEGIES OF THIS CAMPAIGN INCLUDE: (1) ENGAGE STATEWIDE PROFESSIONALS AND RESOURCE GROUPS/CENTERS ON THE NEW MEDICAID ADULT DENTAL BENEFIT PROGRAM, ELIGIBILITY, AND COVERED SERVICES. (2) SUPPORT THE INCREASE OF MARYLAND HEALTHY SMILES PROVIDERS AND BUILD CAPACITY OF MEDICAID WORKFORCE. (3) ADDRESS CONSUMER EDUCATION, ENGAGEMENT, AND PARTICIPATION IN MARYLAND HEALTHY SMILES (MHS) PROGRAM. (4) ANALYZE, ASSESS, AND RECOMMEND IMPROVEMENTS TO PROCESSES AND COVERAGE.

MEDICAID ADULT DENTAL COLLABORATIVE - THE MARYLAND DENTAL ACTION COALITION (MDAC) FORMED THE MEDICAID ADULT DENTAL COLLABORATIVE, COMPRISED OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES, FQHCS, COUNTY AND STATE GOVERNMENTS, NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, ASSOCIATIONS, AND ACADEMIC RESEARCH AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, TO HELP ENSURE THE SUCCESS OF THE MARYLAND MEDICAID ADULT DENTAL PILOT PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES PREVENTATIVE, DIAGNOSTIC, RESTORATIVE DENTAL SERVICES, AS WELL AS EXTRACTIONS, TO APPROXIMATELY 35,000 MARYLAND ADULTS WHO ARE DUAL ELIGIBLE FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID. THE PURPOSE OF THE MDAC COLLABORATIVE IS TO SUPPORT IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PILOT BY (1) ADDRESSING PROVIDER ENGAGEMENT; (2) REMOVING BARRIERS TO PROVIDER PARTICIPATION; (3) ENSURING ELIGIBLE ADULTS ARE AWARE OF THEIR BENEFIT AND ABLE TO ACCESS A PROVIDER; AND (4) HELPING ENSURE THAT SERVICES FIT THEIR ORAL HEALTH NEEDS.

MEMBER ACTIVITIES/ORAL HEALTH SUMMIT 2023 -MDAC HOSTS AN IN-PERSON SUMMIT ON EXPANSION OF ORAL HEALTH COVERAGE IN MARYLAND - A CALL TO ACTION TO IMPROVE HEALTH EQUITY. MEETING SESSIONS ADDRESSED SYSTEMS CHANGES AND CHALLENGES TO IMPROVE AND SUPPORT PROGRAMS THAT FACILITATE AND BROADEN EQUITABLE ACCESS TO ORAL HEALTH CARE, INCLUDING THE EXPANSION OF MARYLAND MEDICAID DENTAL COVERAGE FOR ADULTS, INTEGRATION OF ORAL CARE INTO MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH EDUCATION AND OUTREACH, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF A DIVERSE DENTAL WORKFORCE. MDAC MEMBERS, PARTNERS, AND ORAL HEALTH STAKEHOLDERS STATEWIDE LEARNED FROM PEERS AND SHARED INFORMATION ON PROGRAMS AND STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS EQUITABLE ACCESS IN CARE TO ACHIEVE OPTIMAL ORAL AND OVERALL HEALTH STATEWIDE AS WELL AS IN REGIONAL COMMUNITIES.