G-1811-14566

This investment supports the Missouri Coalition for Oral Health (MCOH) to continue to lead a network of oral health stakeholders dedicated to improving the oral health of all Missourians through public policy and public awareness. Specifically, MCOH and its network will work on the following goals: 1) elevate awareness of oral health policy as a salient issue in Missouri; 2) continue to protect adult dental benefits offered in Missouri Medicaid; 3) increasing access to dental care by advocating for increased reimbursement rates; and 4) expanding and engaging MCOH’s network of oral health advocates, partners, and other stakeholders engaged collectively in improving oral health of all Missourians. The initiative will focus on ensuring that oral health is a key component of Missouri’s health policy and improving the overall system of services, supports, and context impacting the oral health of Missourians. This proposal aligns with the Oral Health 2020 goal of mandatory inclusion of an adult dental benefit in publicly-funded health insurance and the target that at least 30 states have a comprehensive Medicaid adult dental benefit, and no states that currently have a Medicaid adult dental benefit roll back or eliminate that coverage. $65,800 will support personnel time, travel, and meeting expenses associated with implementation of this work.