This blog was written by CDHP's director of policy, Colin Reusch. As the Children's Dental Health Protect (CDHP) reflects on its 22 years of success advancing policies to improve the oral health of children and families, we recognize that there remains much work to be done. We are confident that our many national, state, and community partners are up to the task of achieving a future in which no one is held back from their dreams due to dental disease. As such, we offer a few parting thoughts on where advocates can focus their energy. 1.  Expanding and improving coverage While 90% of c ..read more

The Kaiser Family Foundation recently unveiled their annual Medicaid budget survey. It offers a national review of trends in the Medicaid programs across the country. At an event to mark the release of their findings, KFF also hosted a roundtable of Medicaid Directors from West Virginia, Tennessee, and Washington.  Two findings in particular stood out: Adult dental benefits were one of the most common benefits cut in 2019. States are responding to alarming trends in maternal mortality and morbidity by expanding pregnancy and postpartum services. This presents a concerning combination ..read more

As leader of the Children’s Dental Health Project (CDHP), I have some news to share about our future. After extensive deliberation, CDHP will be moving our oral health policy and advocacy materials to a leading national consumer voice on health care, Community Catalyst. In doing so, we are preparing to end operations as an independent nonprofit by the end of the year. We will close our doors on December 31, 2019. Luckily, all our resources — old and new — will be transferred to our longtime national partner. After years of reviewing our work and talking with many of you, we have determined ..read more

At the start of the summer, a panel of three judges heard arguments in Texas v. United States, a case that could determine the future of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). Many have speculated on the potential outcome of the case and we could expect to hear a decision as soon as this month. Meanwhile, despite the Trump administration’s opposition to the ACA, recent reporting suggests officials may try to delay any immediate policy changes if the court strikes it down.   The ACA transformed the regulations guiding purchase, cost, and benefit design of private coverage. As ..read more

As recently reported in the Baltimore Sun, Maryland has taken significant steps forward to expand Medicaid dental coverage for some adults. A new pilot program will ensure some of the struggling adults who are enrolled in both Medicaid and Medicare can better access oral health services, including preventive care. This success was hard won. I commend the state’s lawmakers and range of advocates for advancing this coverage. But I firmly agree with former Maryland Dental Director, Dr. Harry Goodman, who noted "it is just a start," particularly given the many multi-generational gains that follow ..read more

Newly released data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows more children lost public insurance coverage in 2018. Specifically, 425,000 fewer kids had coverage in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) last year than in 2017. This is particularly harmful to kids’ oral health as both programs cover children’s dental services and nearly 9 in 10 kids had secured dental coverage in recent years. The new numbers continue a dangerous trend. In 2016, children reached historically high rates of health insurance; however, 2017 was the first time in nearly a decade when more children beca ..read more

In sports we rely on referees, the expert arbitrators of how to appropriately play a game. Whether it is a children’s chess match or a professional basketball game, and regardless of how we feel about the teams or players’ intentions, we concede that when all the mechanics are in motion, rules may be broken. For the sake of the “nobility” of our beloved pastimes, we ask individuals to agonize over the details and deliberate, in real time, about whether we followed the rules and gave every player a fair shot. It is disappointing, then, that we cannot apply those same principles to efforts of fa ..read more

Julie Seward Corey Hemstreet   This blog was authored by Julie Seward, RDH, MEd, of the Southern Plains Tribal Health Board, and Corey Hemstreet, of Native American Connections Julie Seward, a Registered Dental Hygienist and member of Cherokee Nation, serves as Program Coordinator for the Oklahoma Shared Clinical and Translation Resources Grant at the Southern Plains Tribal Health Board. Corey Hemstreet, who is Navajo/Laguna Pueblo and a tribal citizen of the Navajo Nation, serves the Phoenix Urban Indian Community as a Community Health Representative for Native American ..read more

The Children’s Dental Health Project (CDHP) led a letter signed by 25 other child and family health organizations opposing roll backs to Affordable Care Act (ACA) rules that protect people from discrimination in federally-financed health programs. CDHP also submitted its own comments against the proposal. In June, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights issued a proposed rule that would substantially change these important safeguards. The ACA’s regulations specifically prohibit discrimination based on race, nationality, sex, age, and disability status. Th ..read more

Despite growing up in a modest home in Brooklyn, my parents never let me forget how lucky I was. For my Honduran mother, my childhood was marked by advantages she didn’t have: good public schools, nearby libraries, and my healthy smile. These were more than luxuries ─ they were my keys to the American dream. However, my mother faced many difficulties due to decayed teeth, from being turned away from potential work to suffering persistent pain. Her dental disease resulted from an upbringing without fluoridated water, much less access to regular dental care. Public programs, like Medicaid, helpe ..read more