|
|
 |
|
|
|
  |
|
|
Dental Health Access Initiative
The Dental Health Access Initiative was developed in 2001 to address the critical and growing problem of access to oral health in DMF’s service area. The Red River Valley Dental Access Project (RRVDAP) was initiated as a collaborative effort with public, private, and philanthropic groups working together to develop strategies to improve access to dental care. Strategies include: increasing dental manpower, promoting education and prevention services, working to improve reimbursement rates, and providing low-income patients with access to dental care. The project also seeks to address the shortage of dental providers by supporting community recruitment efforts and incentive programs. See the Red River Valley Dental Access Project’s website for more information: http://www.rrdentalaccess.com/.
Progress:
- 3,030 uninsured/low-income patients accessed dental care at Moorhead’s Urgent Care Dental Clinic, staffed by local 45 volunteer dentists and 8 dental specialists. Patients from 127 communities served at Clinic.
- Assisted Northern Valley Dental Access Clinic, Northwood, ND, in establishing a new dental clinic that will serve Medicaid and uninsured patients; Clinic scheduled to open in 2007.
- Current responsive grants:
- $43,300 to West Central Initiative, Fergus Falls, MN to support a mobile dental/prevention services program to 1) train early childhood, Head Start and public health staff on oral healthcare and access and 2) to equip a dental van to provide mobile outreach clinics in northwest Minnesota communities to provide access to dental care for Medicaid/uninsured children.
- $100,200 to St. Joseph’s Area Health Services Community Dental Clinic, Park Rapids, MN to hire a full-time dentist and dental assistant to provide access to dental care for serve low-income persons.
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
