US Senate HELP Committee Examines Dental Crisis. Health Centers are a solution.
MNACHC CEO REPORT - Last Thursday, the US Senate Health-Education-Labor-Pensions (HELP) Committee focused on making dental care more affordable and available.
MNACHC submitted comments to HELP Committee Member Senator Tina Smith (MN-D), highlighting the importance of Health Centers in Minnesota and strategies to expand access.
The role of Community Health Centers was prominent in the hearing, as evidenced by the witnesses' testimony and the Senators' questions.
Dental Utilization in Minnesota is critically low.
The MN Department of Human Services (DHS) issued a report in 2022 that reviewed dental utilization for Medicaid and MinnesotaCare enrollees. Overall, roughly a one-third of enrollees had at least one dental visit in a calendar year. This means nearly two-thirds DID NOT have a dental visit.
Minnesota Community Health Center Dental Services increase access to care.
Twelve (12) of Minnesota’s 17 Community Health Centers provide oral health services on-site.
In 2023, roughly 47,500 Minnesotans relied on a Community Health Center for their dental care – an increase of 13.5% since 2020.
These patients made 110,530 visits in 2023, up nearly 30% since 2020.
Minnesota’s Community Health Centers employ nearly 114 full time dental employees, including 50 Doctor of Dental Services (DDS) and 11 dental therapists (Minnesota was the first state to authorize dental therapists).
Despite critical workforce shortages and limited resources, Minnesota Health Centers continue to increase access to dental services for Medicaid and Minnesota Care enrollees. Let’s work together to ensure we can continue to improve the health of everyone in Minnesota!
