Senior Oral Health

The Senior Oral Health Pilot Project “Oral Health Connections” was approved funding by the State Legislature with sponsorship by SE Aging and Long Term Care and Washington Dental Service Foundation, to increase dental access to Medicaid insured seniors 55 years of age and older. The South East regions (Yakima, Kittitas, Benton, Franklin, Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield, and Asotin counties) and Clark county have been selected to pilot the 3 year program. The program will be initiated the first year in Yakima, Benton, Franklin and Walla Walla counties, and will later extend into the remaining areas.

The Oral Health Connections program will evaluate how increased access to preventive dental care can reduce health care costs and improve seniors overall health. Modeled after the Access to Baby and Child Dentistry (ABCD) program, it would offer enhanced Medicaid rates, client case management and education, support for local participating dental offices, Medicaid payments for physicians to provide oral screenings and education as well as, a continuing education program offered through the University of Washington.