dqf2019064

Massachusetts: This investment supports the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers (MLCHC) to implement and field test a set of tools developed by Qualis Health to integrate oral health into Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) models in Community Health Centers. The integration includes health information technology (HIT) and electronic health records with a focus on enhanced procedures and work flow for referrals and shared information. MLCHC will engage five community health centers (CHCs) without co-located oral health services to participate. By evaluating the effectiveness of these tools to integrate oral health services into PCMHs, this investment will improve overall health and enhance patient outcomes and satisfaction by developing a capacity to engage CHCs to offer consumer-focused patient centered care to the underserved populations that are their focus. Demographic data indicates that a large share of CHCs clients represent low-income, underserved, and disadvantaged multi-ethnic and multi-racial populations. $300,000 will support the staffing, expert consultant services, and CHC capacity to field test and engage the providers to participate. The proposal aligns with the Oral Health 2020 Goal 1 of mandatory inclusion of an adult dental benefit in publicly funded health insurance and the target of including oral health in patient-centered care models.