Virginia’s Vote to Expand Medicaid is Significant—Here’s Why
After six long years of legislative inaction on closing the Medicaid coverage gap, the Virginia legislature voted this week to expand Medicaid.
Community Health Workers Provide an Important Service - Now Let’s Get Them Sustainable Funding!
Recently, a woman came to the Hispanic Health Council (HCC) seeking help with housing. It was only during the visit that Maria, a Community Health Worker (CHW) who works with pregnant and postpartum women at HHC, learned that the woman...
Consumer Engagement: A Call for Tools that Measure Organizational and Policy Level Engagement
Everyone is talking about consumer engagement in health care. It is the term of art used to describe anything from reaching people through mobile apps, involving stakeholders in advisory groups to inform new program development, and even – in some...
We Must Continue to Act to Address Gun Violence and Its Impact on Kids
Once again, our children have been confronted with another horrific, deadly school shooting.
CMS Urges States to Pay for the Dental Services Kids Need
Earlier this month, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued an informational bulletin underscoring the link between oral and overall health and the importance of dental care for children with Medicaid coverage. This bulletin recognizes the pitfalls of...
Director's Corner: Engage at Every Age!
Older Americans Month celebrates the difference that older adults make in our communities and this year’s theme is “Engage at Every Age.” Working with older adults to improve the quality of care and quality of life is central to the...
Rule Threatens Coverage of Critical Women’s Health Services
Before the Affordable Care Act (ACA), only 12 percent of individual health insurance plans covered maternity care.
Beyond Work Requirements: Medicaid Waivers for Oral Health Innovation
Last month, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) continued the trend of approving harmful work requirements in state Medicaid programs. Arkansas joined Kentucky and Indiana and became the third state to institute a work requirement. These waivers will...
Anti-immigrant policies are hurting children’s oral health
We should all be able to care for our children’s oral health regardless of our immigration status. But today, U.S. immigration policies are blocking many immigrant families from getting their children needed dental care.