Will 2018 be the year that we all – concerned citizens, policy makers, providers and health care advocates – in Washington State champion the important work of ensuring oral health care for all and eliminating health disparities? A recent opinion piece by Drs. Sue Yoon and Rachel Greene in the Daily Herald effectively explains why…
Health coverage for nearly 58,000 children in Washington State through the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) is at risk in 2018 if Congress fails to act. Federal funding for CHIP, a federal-state program established 20 years ago that provides no-cost or low-cost health insurance for children from lower income households whose families make too much…
Improving Access to Dental Care for Pregnant Women and People with Diabetes Ensuring that patients with diabetes and pregnant women have access to dental care presents a significant opportunity to improve health and save medical costs. These populations are more likely than the general population to have oral health problems and the consequences can be…
Support for lasting solutions that improve oral health – and overall health – for people in Washington state remains strong. The Oral Health Watch Coalition gathered on January 14th for a legislative kick-off lunch. More than 40 attendees representing business, child advocacy, education, government, faith-based, medical, and seniors-focused organizations shared their upcoming legislative goals and heard from keynote speaker…
As children head back to school, policymakers and parents need to be aware of the importance of protecting children’s oral health. New research conducted by the University of Southern California and reported in Medical Daily provides further evidence that dental disease negatively affects the ability of children to perform well in school. The study examined…
Recent stories in the Wall Street Journal and The New York Times have added to the growing national attention on the lack of oral health care in the U.S. This summer The Kaiser Family Foundation released several policy briefs about oral health in the U.S. and the problems associated with a lack of dental care. …
Washington State’s recently released comprehensive new guidelines on childhood development reinforce that good oral health is an integral part of a child’s overall health and development. The Early Learning and Development Guidelines are an easy-to-use resource for parents and caregivers that describe key milestones for children from birth through third grade and ways to support…
After a marathon of negotiations a supplemental budget was approved by the state legislature on Wednesday. The good news is that the budget protects dental coverage for low-income pregnant women, seniors in nursing homes and people with developmental disabilities. This decision by the legislature to support funding for dental coverage reflects in part an increased…
In a Seattle-datelined story, a recent article in The New York Times brings greater attention to the increasing incidence and significant challenges of dental disease in very young children, and the need for increased prevention. “Preschoolers in Surgery for a Mouthful of Cavities” by Catherine Saint Louis begins by describing the extensive dental work –…
Dr. Eve Rutherford, an Arcora Foundation board member, was recently interviewed by KMPS radio reporter Stephen Kilbreath. Dr. Rutherford is a dentist and strong advocate for dental care for vulnerable populations. In the interview, Dr. Rutherford emphasizes the value of dental care, especially for low-income Washingtonians — including pregnant women — and potential cuts to…