CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) INITIATIVE FOCUSES ON CHILDREN’S ORAL HEALTH

Fall 2012 saw the launch of an oral health initiative to increase the percentage of children receiving preventive dental care and dental sealants as part of their enrollment in Medicaid or CHIP (Child Health Insurance Programs).  CMS is the federal agency that oversees Medicaid and CHIP in all states.  Low utilization of preventive services and sealants nationwide precipitated the oral health initiative.  Since the start of the push to increase utilization, states have been assembling task forces or other types of work groups to create plans to facilitate this initiative.

Dental caries is the most prevalent chronic infectious disease in children in the U.S.  This statistic is particularly puzzling when one realizes that caries in children could almost be eliminated with proper preventive care including sealants and healthy dietary choices.  The CMS initiative aims at elimination of caries in children enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP.

Some states have completed the planning process to meet the CMS initiative criteria; other states are in still in the planning process with the ultimate goal of caries elimination by improving access to preventive oral health services for children enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP.  If you are interested in how your state is addressing the CMS initiative or participating in the plans for your state, contact your state’s Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Public Health, or your state Dental Society for more information.