G-1901-14730

This investment supports ACHIEVA/The Arc of Greater Pittsburgh to act as a lead convener in Pennsylvania as part of the Grassroots Engagement Strategy. With a focus on providing lifelong support to people with disabilities, The Arc of Greater Pittsburgh operates a disability healthcare initiative that works through education, advocacy, and policy change to increase access to care for the disabled. The Arch of Greater Pittsburgh’s key successes in Year 4 included strengthening relationships with legislative oral health champions; supporting efforts to include adult dental services in the state’s Medicaid program; and raising awareness regarding oral health care for vulnerable and underserved populations. Oral Health 2020 investment of $70,800 will be used to continue work with legislators, policymakers, and community advocates to champion reviving and enhancing Pennsylvania’s Medicaid adult dental benefit. ACHIEVA will also continue its collaboration with local consumer groups and managed care organizations to expand the Benefit Limit Exception mechanism to adequately provide access to oral health care for those with critical health needs, and with Pennsylvania dental schools to train practitioners to better serve this population. This proposal aligns with the Oral Health 2020 Goal 6 of improving the public perception of the value of oral health to overall health and the target that oral health is increasingly included in health dialogue and public policy.