Oral Health Watch Coalition Working Together
Oral Health Watch coalition members gathered at our annual luncheon in Olympia this past week. It was an engaging meeting that gave us all a chance to catch up with fellow oral health advocates and share with one another our 2017 legislative goals.
State Senator Ann Rivers (R-18), a strong supporter of oral health care access, was the keynote speaker. Introducing Sen. Rivers, Arcora Foundation President & CEO Diane Oakes described the lawmaker from La Center as a person who wholly understands the connection between oral health and overall health.
“We are fortunate to have a champion who understands that access to preventive oral health care and early dental treatment can improve health, prevent unnecessary suffering and save money,” said Oakes.
Explaining to Oral Health Watch coalition members why dental care access is important to her, Sen. Rivers shared with the group her personal experiences as a young girl. Rivers, who described herself as coming from ‘humbler beginnings,’ noted that she didn’t see a dentist until she was seven or eight-years-old.
Sen. Rivers added that her ability to access dental care as a child has helped her later in life – professionally, personally and health-wise.
She also noted that while our state has made great strides in improving dental access for vulnerable young children and providing coverage for low-income adults, more can be done.
“Washington State has been a leader in health care,” said Sen. Rivers. “We’ve done well with children and there’s been some good progress with adults. Yes, we have some miles to go before we can rest. But I’m ready for the hike if you are.”
Thanks to all of the Oral Health Watch partners who attended and shared with the coalition their commitment to oral health: Adult Family Home Council, Childhood Obesity Prevention Coalition, CHOICE Regional Health Network, Coordinated Care, Delta Dental of Washington, The Foundation for Healthy Generations, Molina, Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board, The Office of Governor Jay Inslee, Olympic Community of Health, Statewide Poverty Action Network, , Washington Association of Area Agencies on Aging, Washington Association of Community & Migrant Health Centers, Washington Healthcare Access Alliance, Washington State Dental Association, Arcora Foundation, Washington State Department of Early Learning, Washington State Department of Health, Washington State Health Care Authority, Washington State Hospital Association and Washington State Senior Citizens’ Lobby.
Medicaid Expansion Presents an Opportunity to Secure Dental Coverage for Low-Income Adults
In Washington State, the Medicaid adult dental program was largely eliminated in 2011 due to budget shortfalls. Thanks to action by the Washington State Legislature, coverage was restored January 1, 2014.
Arcora Foundation and its many partners successfully advocated for the restoration of the Medicaid adult dental program. Success required:
- compelling messages
- strong grassroots advocacy
- a broad-based lobbying coalition
- effective media outreach
These tactics, combined with the right timing and a recovering state economy, led to the restoration of dental coverage for Medicaid-insured adults, which has the potential to benefit more than 775,000 low-income people in Washington.
The opportunity to leverage federal dollars proved to be one of the arguments that persuaded policymakers. Because of the Affordable Care Act’s expansion of the Medicaid program, the federal government will pay the full cost of dental care for all new enrollees through Medicaid expansion. To learn more about this and other messages that generated bipartisan support for the Medicaid adult dental program, read our advocacy brief.
Trying to Secure Medicaid Adult Dental Coverage in Your State?
No need to re-create the wheel! Adapt our materials to suit your needs:
- Various 1-pagers distributed to policymakers (1, 2, 3)
- Earned Media
- Action alerts, Blog posts
- Radio spots (Emergency Room audio, Diabetes audio)
- Other media touting the importance of oral health (Wall Street Journal, Deseret News, HealthLeaders, Yakima Herald Republic)
Oral Health Watch
1d
👇🙌The SmileMobile's first visit in 2021 will be at Yelm Middle School starting the week of February 8th. Call 888-286-9105 for more details. The SmileMobile is made possible by @Arcorafound @DeltaDentalWA & @seattlechildren. #teethmatter
The SmileMobile is back! Their dental team will be in Yelm the weeks of Feb. 8 and 15. Local families with Apple Health (Medicaid) or without insurance are encouraged to call 888-286-9105. #access @YCSnews
Oral Health Watch
1d
👇The SmileMobile will be in Yelm the weeks of February 8th and 16th. Call 888.286.9105 for more details. The SmileMobile is made possible by Arcora Foundation, Delta Dental of Washington and Seattle Children's. #teethmatter
Oral Health Watch
2d
There's a reason why more than 100 well-regarded, reputable health organizations support fluoridation. That's because for more than 75 years, water fluoridation has helped improve the oral health of millions of Americans regardless of race, ethnicity or income level. #teetmatter
Oral Health Watch
2d
There's a reason why more than 100 well-regarded, reputable health organizations support fluoridation. That's because for more than 75 years, water fluoridation has helped improve the oral health of millions of Americans regardless of race, ethnicity or income level. #teetmatter
There are over 100 well-known, well-respected scientific research, public health, medical, & dental organizations that recognize the safety & effectiveness of CWF.
Oral Health Watch
3d
The global pandemic has shown us that health care coverage is important, but it is especially so during a health crisis. Washington state's Apple Health adult dental care program helps advance oral health in our communities by helping to prevent dental disease and small problems from getting ...bigger. #teethmatter #ProtectDental #waleg
Oral Health Watch
3d
Health care coverage is important, but it is especially so during a global health crisis. WA state's Apple Health adult dental care program helps prevent oral disease and small problems from getting bigger. #teethmatter #ProtectDental #waleg
"It is precisely in these times we should all remember the stakes are too high to do anything less than preserve programs that people need to stay health." #ProtectDental
- Andrew Lofton (@Seattle_Housing) and @Vanetta_SeaTac w/ @SeattleMedium
https://seattlemedium.com/preserving-state-adult-dental-program-promotes-health-equity/