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WOHC MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
The WOHC member
spotlight shines brightly on Ruth Brennan, RN health
coordinator for Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) Head
Start program, serving over 1,000 low-income
children. Brennan received her Bachelor of Science
in Nursing from the University of
Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Brennan also completed training at
the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill as a child care
health consultant. Prior to her role with Head Start
Brennan served as a public health nurse for the City of
Milwaukee Health Department for over 20
years.
Brennan considers
access to dental care as the leading oral health
problem in Wisconsin, particularly for low-income
families. Brennan sees first-hand the unmet need for
dental care in her daily interaction with Head Start
children. Through her work at MPS Head Start,
she developed partnerships with the Greater Milwaukee
Dental Association, Marquette University School of Dentistry,
Children's Hospital Dental Center, Madre Angela Dental Clinic,
Milwaukee Area Technical College, Lisbon Avenue Health Center,
and many private dentists who have graciously donated their
professional services.
Brennan is
currently working on a fluoride varnish program for Head
Start children through a grant with Wells Fargo
Bank. Brennan knows the access
problem requires a comprehensive
solution, but states that parental education
and additional preventative measures would help
decrease the disease burden. The WOHC would
like to express its appreciation for Brennan and her
continued dedication to the oral health access needs of
children.
This section of
the WOHC Oral Health eBytes will feature a dedicated
member/organization of the coalition. If you have any
recommendations, please contact Matt
Crespin
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WISCONSIN
NEWS
Steering
Committee Update
The WOHC governing
body recently took a closer look at the policy
statements the coalition puts forth. Based on
committee discussions, a few changes have been made including
two new policy statements as well as some policy
modifications. Click
here to view the most recent version of the WOHC policy
statements. Contact Matt Crespin with
any questions or concerns.
Dental Examining Board (DEB)
Report
The
Dental Examining Board met on January 31, 2007 amid some
controversy as the January 12 meeting was deemed unofficial by
the Department of Regulation and Licensing
(DRL). The DEB welcomed new members after
their recent senate confirmations. Nancy Rublee, RDH
(Dental Hygiene Member), Blane Christman, DDS (Dentist
Member), Kirk Ritchie, DDS (Dentist Member); Carol Howard
(Public Member); Sandra Lindhardt, RDH (Dental Hygiene
Member); and Adrianna Jaramillo, DDS (Dentist Member).
At
the January meeting, the DEB elected new
officers. William Skarie, DDS, chair, Lori
Barbeau, DDS, vice-chair, and Linda Bohacek, RDH,
Secretary. The board meets bi-monthly. For meeting
dates, minutes, and agendas, visit the DEB Web site
. The next DEB meeting will take place in
Madison on March 7, 2007.
CR 05-033 - LRB 1174/1 -
HFS107
Recently an interesting
turn of events took place at a meeting of the Joint
Committee for Review of Administrative Rules (JCRAR) in the
Wisconsin State Legislature. The committee met to
vote on the introduction of LRB 1174/1, legislation
that would have prevented the Wisconsin Department
of Health and Family Services (DHFS) from promulgating a rule
to allow dental hygienists the ability to bill Medicaid (MA)
for scaling and root planning; full mouth debridement;
periodontal maintenance; and oral screening and preliminary
examination.
As a point of reference,
in 2006, DHFS forwarded Clearinghouse Rule 05-033 to
the JCRAR that allowed dental hygienists to become Medicaid
providers and bill for complete scope-of-practice.
In June of 2006 the JCRAR voted to pass CR 05-033 with
modifications. At the time, Senator Glenn
Grothman (R-West Bend) sought a compromise between
those who objected to the rule in its entirety and
those who supported the rule. As a result, the Committee
voted to allow dental hygienists to become MA providers and
bill for fluoride applications, sealants, and oral prophylaxis
(dental cleanings) as long as they fulfilled an experience
requirement agreed upon between the Committee and DHFS.
The Committee objected to allowing dental
hygienists to bill Medicaid for scaling and root planning;
full mouth debridement; periodontal maintenance; and oral
screening and preliminary examinations. This rule did
not change the practice capabilities of a dental hygienist,
but merely provided them the ability to bill MA for
some services already being delivered.
As a matter of process, in
order for the objections to stand, the Committee would have to
introduce legislation in 2007 codifying its
objections. This legislation would have to pass
both houses and be signed by the Governor.
This January, the JCRAR failed to introduce
LRB 1174/1 by a 5-5 vote and therefore, the original rule
promulgated by DHFS went into effect, allowing dental
hygienists to become MA providers and bill for their
fullscope-of-practice.
At the Committee
hearing, Senate Chairman Bob Jauch (D-Poplar) offered an
amendment that would have honored the work of Senator Grothman
and maintained the earlier compromise until April 2008.
Senator Jauch's amendment failed and as a result, the
majority of the Committee voted against LRB 1174/1 being
introduced.
What does all this
mean? The original DHFS rule CR05-033 which was
submitted to the JCRAR in June 2006 is the rule that is
now in full effect. This rule allows a dental hygienist
to bill for all services under their
scope-of-practice. There is also not an expereince
requirement or notification requirement as there was in the
modified version of the rule that was passed
initially. It is important to remember this rule
does not change the way a dental hygienist is able to
practice, but rather provides them a mechanism to bill MA
as a certified provider. Click
here to view HFS 107.07, but note that a complete update
to this code has not yet been completed.
New Medicaid Director
Announced
Jason Helgerson was recently
appointed as the Administrator of the Division of Health
Care Financing effective March 19, 2007.
Helgerson served as the Executive Assistant for the
Department of Health and Family Services since February of
2005. View
the official press release. | |
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NATIONAL
NEWS
2007
National Oral Health Conference (NOHC)
The
National Oral Health Conference (NOHC), a joint meeting
of the American Association of State and Territorial Dental
Directors (ASTDD) and the American Association of Public
Health Dentistry (AAPHD) will be held at
the Marriott Denver Tech Center April 30 - May 2,
2007. View
the registration brochure and conference information.
In
addition, the 19th Annual Meeting on Special Care Dentistry
will be held at the same location from May 2 - May
5, 2007. Information on this conference is also
available at the link listed above.
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FYI
Poor Oral Health Linked to
Pancreatic Cancer
You may be
familiar with the link between poor oral health and heart
disease, stroke, diabetes, and pregnancy problems. Now
oral health is being linked with yet another deadly
disease. Learn
more.
Integration of Oral Health and
Maternal Child Health
Programs
Click
here to read and download this informational brochure
produced by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Maternal and Child Health Bureau in conjunction with the
National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center and
the Association of State and Territorial Dental
Directors.
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