G-2405-21768

Hawaii Public Health Institute (HPHI) works to improve policies, systems and
environments where people live, learn, work, age, and play through issue-based advocacy, education, technical assistance, capacity building services, conferences and trainings. HIPHI is applying for funding as the backbone organization of the Hawaii Oral Health Coalition (HOHC). CareQuest Institute has supported both HIPHI and Hawaii Children’s Action Network (HCAN) since 2018 to operate different functions of the HOHC.

Building on the significant legislative progress made between 2022 and 2024 (supported by CareQuest Institute), HOHC has refined its primary focus in the following areas: supporting implementation and development of Medicaid adult dental benefits, dental workforce, as well as community-based approaches to improving and increasing access to care. Currently, HOHC anticipates the passage of a key policy priority, which expands the scope of allowable functions of dental hygienists in Hawaii in school-based settings, aligning their practice with their level of training, and addressing two key focus areas. The 2023 rollout of expanded Medicaid coverage for adults has underscored the shortage of dental providers in Hawaii, especially those participating in Medicaid. According to a 2023 survey conducted by HIPHI in conjunction with the American Dental Association’s Health Policy Institute, low reimbursement rates present the greatest challenge to current Medicaid providers accepting new patients and clinic sustainability and are the most significant barrier to non-Medicaid providers enrolling in the program. The survey further highlights concerns with patient outreach and benefit utilization. While approximately 288,000 adults now have expanded coverage, there is a significant need for strategic approaches to enhance existing dental workforce capacity and Medicaid benefit utilization.

Through the Policy and Advocacy Sub-Program, HPHI will build, support, and improve the capacity of the HOHC, support implementation of adult Medicaid dental coverage, advance oral health policies for school-age children, and advance state and local oral health workforce development. HPHI and HOHC will partner to explore new policy options for expanding functions among existing dental workforce and supporting license portability, expand partnerships with organizations and state entities to promote oral health professions in community and academic settings, study national trends in Medicaid expansion, their impact on community care access and utilization, identify related policy implications for Hawaii providers and residents; and conduct a community oral health needs assessment. HPHI will also continue to partner with HCAN to advance targeted children’s oral health initiatives by working with community dental and primary care providers to explore policy considerations for requiring dental examination for entry into public schools and assess the impact of Medicaid reimbursement on the sustainability of school and community-based oral health services for children.

This request is for $205,970 which is 2% of the organization’s overall budget. The grant funds will support staff time, and $70,000 to support HCAN’s work through a subcontract