Yesterday, about 75 people from across the state met to discuss a new plan for improving the oral health of the Commonwealth. This movement, lead by the Better Oral Health for Massachusetts Coalition (BOHMA), is a broad-based statewide collaborative of programs, providers (dentists, dental hygienists, physicians and other health providers), lawmakers, state oral health officials, insurers, health advocates, policy leaders and consumers in communities from Cape Cod to the Berkshires.
With a focus on improving access to care for all, reducing disparities and promoting equity in Massachusetts’ oral health, BOHMA will work to:
- Increase access to oral health services and prevention.
- Promote positive policy, advocacy and public awareness concerning oral health.
- Strengthen, diversify and expand Massachusetts’ oral health workforce.
- Promote and support ongoing statewide assessment and surveillance systems.
- Form a clear oral health action plan that incorporates at least all of these elements.
BOHMA coalition members, including many members of HCFA’s Oral Health Advocacy Taskforce, have been hard at work for the past year putting together an inclusive plan. Yesterday, after a greeting from Senator Harriette Chandler, stakeholders reviewed the plan one more time. The final plan is slated to be released in March (click here for the plan draft (pdf)).
To learn more about current oral health advocacy work, please visit www.hcfama.org/oralhealth.
-Christine Keeves
