Grants to states to support oral health workforce activities - the department of health and human services, division of health care financing and policy (dhcfp) serves as nevada's medicaid authority…

Grants to states to support oral health workforce activities - the department of health and human services, division of health care financing and policy (dhcfp) serves as nevada's medicaid authority which houses the state's dental health officer. Nevada recognizes the effects of dental and oral health on the well-being of individuals, the community, and the economic benefits of preventative services that result in a reduction of individuals accessing emergency rooms for dental services. Nevada has significant challenges in addressing the dental and oral health needs of the populations, especially in the rural and frontier counties, which often require innovative and diverse strategies. Access to dental care is difficult in nevada, not only because of dental health professional shortages, transportation, and finance models, but also the lack of engagement by oral health professionals. Nevada has examined the opportunities and challenges to improve oral health services in nevada, which has been impacted by the covid-19 epidemic, substance use disorders, economic limitations, access issues, as well as minority health and equity issues. Nevada is working to expand and work collaboratively with health care professionals across the state to integrate oral, medical and behavioral health in a variety of settings to include schools, community health, primary health as well as establishing a new rural clinic. The clinic will serve as host to local education facilities to expand services in a dental hpsa. The goal is to create a model that can be replicated in other rural/frontier communities. In addition, nevada will be working to expand service delivery expanding the ability of oral health professionals that are underutilized. This includes educating and training dental professionals about the dental therapist designation as well as the public health endorsement which allows dental hygienists to expand their scope of practice. Together, these can create opportunities to expand services throughout neva DA. Utilizing the key messages from nevada's statewide oral health commission as established by the nevada state legislature and oral health in america: advances and challenges from the national institutes of health, nevada dhcfp has developed a project approach utilizing qualitative and quantitative data as well as best practice to incorporates division partners, community partners, elected officials to build nevada's dental and oral health program that augments the state dental office to engage, educate and expand programs to support oral health throughout nevada. This will also include innovations to design education and workforce programs while utilizing quantitative and qualitative methodology to measure success. Activities for the program work to introduce dental careers to youth, and to provide expanded educational opportunities for those in the dental community. Activities will work to design education work force programs that address opioid use disorder by advancing better practice for pain management while also improving access to treatment and recovery services by working through policy advisory boards dedicated to the identification, screening and treatment of those with substance use disorders. Nevada will be working in conjunction with the nevada office of minority health and equity and coalitions to improve and expand dental education and resources to address culturally and linguistically diverse populations, including the geographically rural and frontier communities, those with substance use disorder, and families identified with socio-economic challenges. Nevada will be working with coalitions, educational professionals, oral health related boards, commissions and regulatory authorities to build a comprehensive state plan that is dynamic and geared towards measurable outcomes. By identifying clear objectives that are measurable, nevada may be able to expand the medicaid state plan to increase