February is National Children’s Dental Health Month
DID YOU KNOW?? National Children’s Dental Health Month is meant to raise awareness about the importance of oral health. Why is this type of celebration—and year-round attention to children’s dental health–important?
Despite the fact that it’s almost entirely preventable, tooth decay is the most common chronic disease in children. The good news is there are safe and effective preventive measures that can protect teeth. Good oral hygiene practices such as thorough brushing with a fluoride toothpaste can help keep children from getting cavities. In addition, dental sealants and community water fluoridation are two other strategies that can help prevent tooth decay.
Resource:http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/NewsAndFeatures/Announcements/ChildrensDentalHealthMonth.htm
As you know, HPSJ is promoting Children’s Dental Health in San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties. The Modesto Bee published an article to inform the communities of our efforts. Here is a snip-it from the article:
Health Plan of San Joaquin, a managed-care plan for Medi-Cal recipients in Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties, has launched an initiative called “Oral Health for Children Starts at Birth.”
The plan based in French Camp wants to try tackling the public health issue from the prevention side. For starters, it is boosting the reimbursement for pediatricians and nurse practitioners in its network to provide fluoride varnish treatments for children up to 6 years old. While many low-income kids are not getting dental care, young children may have nine visits with a pediatrician before first seeing a dentist. The varnish treatments are easily done in a pediatrician’s exam room and can be handled by nurses or medical assistants, said Dr. Lakshmi Dhanvanthari, chief medical officer of Health Plan of San Joaquin.
The plan also is expanding the pharmacy benefit for families, allowing them a 100-day supply of fluoride drops and tablets. Experience shows use of the drops or tablets declines if parents have to get monthly refills from the drugstore. The oral health initiative includes an education and public awareness component. In addition, “lunch and learn” presentations are being held for physicians and other clinicians in the HPSJ network.
Dhanvanthari said the health plan, with 152,000 children in its two-county network, has an opportunity to make a difference, even though none of the providers in the network are dentists. Medi-Cal dental benefits were carved out of the medical managed-care system and are administered by a state agency.
“Prevention is the first step we need to take to improving the oral health of children in the community, so that is how we are approaching it,” Dhanvanthari said.
If you are interested in reading the full article, you can click on the link below or you can find it on our Website (HPSJ.com) in the News Room.
Resource: http://www.modbee.com/news/local/news-columns-blogs/ken-carlson/article49146020.html
The HEDIS team has identified measures that are considered a higher priority and that we want to focus our initiatives on. We will share measure specific information that correlates with national health and wellness information.
Well-Child Visits in the Third, Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Years of Life (W34)
The American Academy of Pediatrics and Bright Futures recommend a comprehensive annual preventive visit at ages 3, 4, 5, and 6. These visits should include a health history, physical examination, immunizations, vision and hearing screening, developmental/behavioral assessment, and an oral health assessment (at ages 3 and 6). In addition, these visits should include age-appropriate anticipatory guidance on a wide range of topics to engage parents in promoting their child’s healthy development. Referrals for follow-up care may occur if physical, social, or emotional issues are detected. A key aim of preventive care during this period is to facilitate a child’s school readiness and address any issues that would interfere with their school attendance and learning.
Description of W34 measure
The percentage of members 3–6 years of age who had one or more well-child visits with a PCP during the measurement year. The PCP does not have to be the practitioner assigned to the child.
Notes: This measure is based on the CMS and American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines for EPSDT visits. Refer to the American Academy of Pediatrics Guidelines for Health Supervision at http://www.aap.org and Bright Futures: Guidelines for Health Supervision of Infants, Children and Adolescents (published by the National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health) at http://www.Brightfutures.org for more information about well-child visits.
Resource: NCQA HEDIS 2016 Tech specs, Volume 2
Other ways we can make a difference during Children’s Health/Dental Health Awareness Month?
- Encourage parents to take their children to the dentist, as early as the first tooth appears. Also, inform them that their PCP may provide fluoride varnish, in their office, for their child’s oral health.
- Let parents know their health plan covers well-child visits and you do not need a referral to make an appointment with their PCP.
- Encourage parents to schedule and get their children’s well-child visit done this year. Remembering to schedule around birthdays is a helpful reminder.
- Let families know their children ages 3-6 may be eligible for a $20 gift card incentive from the Health Plan, if they have their well-child visit.