GRANT00010

Support to Center for Health Care Strategies, Inc. (CHCS) to lead a learning collaborative of five (5) to seven (7) states as they design, implement, and assess the impact of strategies to achieve the oral health access goals identified in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid’s (CMS) National Oral Health Initiative. CHCS is a nonprofit health policy resource center dedicated to improving health care quality for low-income children and adults, people with chronic illnesses and disabilities, frail elders, and racially and ethnically diverse populations experiencing disparities in care. Across the learning collaborative, CHCS will aim to include a diverse set of states – including those with a range of baseline oral health care access rates, program infrastructure, and from regions across the country. This learning collaborative will provide states with peer interaction, access to subject-matter experts, and guidance from CHCS – enabling participants to learn from one another, work together to address common challenges, consider strategic options, and share best practices. Content will be tailored to the needs of participants, incorporating strategies for: engaging the primary care delivery system; using incentives to improve oral health access and quality; developing provider networks; advancing oral health care provider willingness to see young children; family/patient engagement; and developing metrics and measurement tools. Lessons and findings from this work accordingly will enhance CHCS’ base of knowledge and inform their long-term strategic direction in the Medicaid oral health arena, and will support development of best practices for states as they work to achieve the CMS oral health access goals.