December 2020 Newsletter
Adult Dental Benefit Implementation - What Comes Next
2021 will be a big year for health care in Virginia thanks to the hard work of health advocates (you!). Beginning July 1, 2021, all Virginians enrolled in Medicaid will have access to a comprehensive dental benefit. Virginia Health Catalyst is committed to ensuring partners feel prepared for a smooth rollout, here are a few ways to stay involved with the implementation process:

  • Attend the 2021 Policy Webinar: On January 5 Catalyst will host a policy webinar where you can learn about the Governor’s budget, hear from health care advocates on their priorities for the 2021 legislative session, and receive an update on the adult dental benefit rollout. 
  • Join the Adult Dental Implementation Team: Sign up to be a part of the group that will guide Catalyst’s work on implementation. Team members will have the opportunity to share rollout needs directly with Catalyst and shape Catalyst’s roll in implementation.  
  • Find new Resources on the Adult Dental Resource Page: Leading up to July, Catalyst will host monthly webinars for partners to learn the latest news on the rollout. Webinar information and new resources as they become available can be found on the Adult Dental Resource Page. 

Securing funding for an adult dental benefit in Medicaid took the tireless work and support of health advocates across Virginia, thank you to all who helped make this a reality! Learn more about what we accomplished, and what’s coming up in 2021 in our latest blog. 
Register for the FREE Racial Equity Trainings!
There’s still time to register for Catalyst’s racial equity webinars in 2021. Stand-alone webinars on topics like unconscious bias are available, as well as three-part learning cohorts for attendees who want to create lasting change in their organizations. Each training is free and open to any member of the health care community in Virginia. Find course descriptions and register here!
Additional Resources
Register for the FREE Special Needs Dentistry – You Can Do It! Trainings

In partnership with the VDH, Catalyst is excited to offer a free five-part webinar series for dentists and dental hygienists on special needs dentistry. The series provides the dental community with the tools and knowledge to treat patients with special health care needs and covers topics like treatment planning, the latest clinical information and recommendations, and trends in special care dentistry. Attendees can receive 10 CE credits for the series, learn more here and register today!
Address COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy

As the COVID-19 vaccine becomes accessible to more Virginians, addressing patient concerns surrounding the vaccine will be paramount. In a recent webinar, panelists shared how to acknowledge and address vaccine hesitancy through provider and government-led education. Catch up on the webinar and learn how to address patient concerns here.
VHHA Launches new Program to Meet PPE Needs

To address PPE needs during the COVID-19 pandemic the VHHA has partnered with PPE.Exchange. PPE.Exchange is a free platform for providers to find much needed PPE. In addition to buying PPE for individual organizations, the VHHA can facilitate “collaborative purchases” which aggregate purchases across organizations to secure more cost savings. More information on the partnership and how to leverage the platform is available on the VHHA website.
VDH Offers Revised Bright Smiles for Babies Fluoride Varnish Program

Recent legislation passed in 2020 allows more health care professionals to apply fluoride varnish and receive reimbursement through Medicaid. VDH has created an updated one-hour online fluoride varnish course to ensure all eligible health care professionals can apply fluoride varnish. The training is available through the VDH website.
New Dental Care Search Tool Provides Easy Access to Virginians

The Virginia Health Care Foundation has launched a new dental care finder for Virginians seeking care at a free clinic, community health center, or FQHC. Users can search by location to find a clinic near them and learn information like whether the clinic accepts dental insurance including Medicaid, or can provide care to patients without dental insurance.