The summer can be a quiet season, but that isn’t so for the world of oral health advocacy. We hope to see you in the coming days, and months, at a number of exciting events that will provide the opportunity to learn, network, and advocate for oral health in the Commonwealth!
Join us tomorrow, June 16th, from 8:30am – 12:30 pm at the Omni Parker House in Boston for Putting the Mouth Back in the Body: Improving Oral Health across the Commonwealth. This forum, organized by Brandeis University, is designed for you to engage with health leaders about how Massachusetts can improve oral health, and in turn overall health, across the Commonwealth. Speakers will include Senator Harriette Chandler, Representative John Scibak, Commissioner John Auerbach from the Department of Public Health, Conan Davis from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, Catherine Hayes from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, and Judith Jones from Boston University School of Dental Medicine. Click here for the Website & Registration.
Register today for Health Care For All’s free conference, Health Disparities: A Closer Look. The conference takes place this Friday, June 19th, from 8:30am – 12 noon, and will feature a panel called Oral Health Disparities: Where are the gaps and how do we close them?. It will feature Dr. John Morgan, chair of the Oral Health Advocacy Taskforce, Alex White of the DentaQuest Institue, and BL Hathaway of the Tri-County Collaborative on Oral Health Excellence. Click here to learn more.
On July 15th at 1:00 pm in room B1 of the state house the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing hears two important oral health bills!
- H 1100, An act relative to equitable dental reimbursement rates for services provided to publicly aided patients. Click here to download fact sheet (.pdf).
- H 1101, An act to include dental benefits in all Commonwealth Care plans. Click here to download fact sheet (.pdf).
We hope to see you there to show your support for oral health!
And finally, please save the date for the next meeting of the Oral Health Advocacy Taskforce on August 11th from 10 am until noon. Details of the location and agenda items will follow soon.
- Courtney Chelo
