How to Assure Comprehensive Dental Services in Medicaid & Head Start

Medicaid and Head Start programs provide medical and educational services to poor children. Surveys performed in Maryland and Wisconsin Head Start programs showed a higher than average occurrence of cavities in the children serviced by these programs, as many of them have no access to dental care. As a result, Head Start has developed programs incorporating policies that include the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT) regulations established by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to improve access to dental services.

Instructions

• 1

  Establish a network of dentists and dental hygienists who will provide the services for your program. Identify the payment source, whether it is grant funds, reimbursement directly from Medicaid, or other funding.

• 2

  Recruit social workers to act as case managers to be liaisons between the dental staff, facility staff, and parents of the children being served. This will ensure communication of information between the dental staff and parents, who are responsible for the child's medical care. Social workers help reduce the number of missed visits by reminding families of their appointments and arranging transportation for families in need.

• 3

  Establish the location for the mobile dental clinic. Many families are unable to access or uninterested in obtaining these services for their children, and bringing the services to the children addresses these problems. Market an outreach program to educate the families about the services that will be provided.

• 4

  Provide follow-up dental services at regular intervals. Case managers should follow through with children who need further dental intervention to address cavities or other dental problems.