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Indian Health Service releases Oral Health Survey Data Brief of American Indian/Alaska Native children 

The IHS Division of Oral Health released their 2022-2023 Oral Health Data Brief highlighting the impacts of COVID-19 on the oral health of American Indian and Native American (AI/NA) children, age 6-9 years.



Key findings from the report:

• The lack of regular dental care during the COVID-19 Pandemic may have led to an increase in oral health issues among American Indian and Alaska Native children. Compared to 2017, fewer AI/AN dental patients have protective dental sealants on permanent molars, and more are experiencing oral pain or infection.
• Oral health disparities continue to be a significant issue. Compared to other racial/ethnic groups, AI/AN children have the highest rates of tooth decay and untreated dental problems.
• Although the COVID-19 Pandemic likely reduced access to protective dental sealants through clinic- and school-based programs, AI/AN children continue to have higher rates of sealants compared to the general U.S. population.

The survey also notes a shift in the capture of information used to track oral health trends. Historically, elementary schools posed the greatest resource in reporting the dental health of school aged children. Staff shortages and an increase reluctance to take on non-educational activities, however, may reduce the reliability of this medium. Alternatively, professionals will increasing seek dental clinic-based surveillance to accurate report on oral health trends.

Federal Rules may improve access to dental services for Medicare beneficiaries, Community Health Workers

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released its CY 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule in July. This annual rule sets payment rates for physician services provided to Medicare beneficiaries. It also proposes policies that affect Medicare providers and the beneficiaries they

serve.

This year’s rule includes three policy proposals that will strengthen access to health care and improve health equity. The first is to reimburse for Community Health Integration services furnished by providers, including Community Health Workers. These services include but are not limited to care coordination, health education, building patient self-advocacy skills, facilitating access to community resources.

The second proposal is to reimburse for social determinants of health (SDOH) risk assessments. As with Community Health Integration services, payment for social determinants of health risk assessments will incentivize providers to better understand patients’ health-related needs and to assist them in resolving those needs.

The third proposal is to reimburse providers for more dental services inextricably linked to several services used to treat cancer. By law, Medicare is only allowed to cover dental services if they are inextricably linked or necessary to the success of another service. This is the second consecutive year where CMS has proposed to expand the list of conditions where certain dental services may be covered. It is a small, but important step toward increasing access to oral health care for Medicare beneficiaries.



Virginia Health Catalyst is preparing a comment letter in support of these proposals. Please contact Ben Barber at bbarber@vahealthcatatlyst.org if you would like to see a copy of the letter. You can also submit your own comment before September 11, 2023.

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