Improving the quality and cost-effectiveness of publicly financed health care
New Jersey Smiles: A Medicaid Quality Collaborative to Improve Oral Health in Young Kids
Questions? Contact Sheree Neese-Todd,
sneesetodd@chcs.org.
Related Resources
- Periodicity of Dental Services for Children in NJ FamilyCare/Medicaid
- Child Oral Health Resources for Primary Care Providers
- A “High-Touch” Approach to Improving Oral Health for Newark Children
- A Guide to Improving Children's Oral Health Care: Tools for the Head Start Community
- New Jersey Smiles Intervention Change Package and Measurement Plan for Improving Oral Health Care for Young Kids
- NJ Smiles Small Group Consultation: Faculty Presentations
While dental decay is highly preventable, limited access to dental care contributes to the high rates of childhood dental disease particularly among low income and minority children. In New Jersey the Medicaid EPSDT data show that just 15% of all eligible children aged 0 to 6 years received any dental service in FY 2006 and only 13% in that age group received preventive dental care. To improve pediatric dental care in New Jersey and ensure that children receive EPSDT dental benefits, the Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS) developed New Jersey Smiles: A Medicaid Quality Collaborative to Improve Oral Health in Young Kids (NJ Smiles). The 18-month effort is funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
The initiative, launched in September 2007, is engaging the state's five Medicaid managed care health plans -- AmeriChoice of NJ, AMERIGROUP NJ, Health Net, Horizon NJ Health and University Health Plans -- along with NJ Medicaid, NJ Head Start, and other regional partners who are committed to improving access to oral health services for young children. The NJ Smiles quality workgroup will tie the importance of good oral health to overall health and will work to engage primary care and dental providers to establish dental homes for children at risk.