G-1810-14557

This investment supports the Children's Dental Health Project (CDHP) to continually track and respond to legislative and regulatory changes that could impact the oral health coverage of children and their families, providing tools, resources, and expertise as needed in support of the OPEN Network. Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and the Affordable Care Act (ACA) are the primary focus for CDHP. In prior years, we have supported CDHP to be flexible and respond to emerging needs around these issues at the state and federal levels. In 2017-2018, CDHP expanded its focus beyond children, exploring the issue of oral health coverage as it relates to family success. CDHP also led work to defend challenges to CHIP and the ACA and provided tailored assistance to states around Medicaid waivers. In 2019, the work will build upon these efforts. Specifically, CDHP will monitor, respond, and develop resources to support network activities in defense of oral health benefits in Medicaid, CHIP, and the ACA; respond to emergent needs at the state level and develop resources including webinars, blog-writing, email updates, and joint documents for use by OPEN; and continue to build a conceptual framework for multi-generational oral health that identifies opportunities to support family success. $460,800 will be used to support staffing and consultants' time and some travel and administrative costs necessary for the project's implementation.