In the News

With Medicaid funding on the chopping block, we must protect access to comprehensive care. CareQuest Institute Senior Director of Public Policy, Melissa Burroughs, spoke to Noah Tong at Fierce Healthcare about how dental benefits are usually one of the first things states eliminate when Medicaid funding is cut, or state budgets are tight. Read...

Of the more than nine million veterans who are eligible for medical care through the VHA, approximately 1.8 million are also eligible for dental care. Among veterans eligible for dental care, a third use that benefit annually—inclusive of the community care network (CCN). The CCN is a private network of VA-affiliated providers available to...

Dental organizations, including CareQuest Institute, are continuing to back community water fluoridation as the future of this practice comes under threat at the federal level. Read the full story...

The recent dismantling of the CDC Division of Oral Health has sent shockwaves through the dental community, raising concerns about the future of dental public health efforts and the prioritization of oral health at the federal level. Our Senior Director of Public Policy, Melissa Burroughs, and other industry leaders gave their reactions in...

While poor oral hygiene is often linked to issues like tooth loss, gum disease and bad breath, experts warn it can also have a far-reaching impact on your entire well-being — including your heart. In this article in the New York Post, experts explain the connection between oral health and heart disease, including a report from CareQuest...

Two advocates for veteran care in Michigan are tackling the critical gap in veterans’ dental care, offering free clinics through grants and sustainable community programs. A 2022 report from the American Institute of Dental Public Health and CareQuest Institute highlights the disparities rural veterans face in accessing dental care. Read the...

For individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, a trip to the dental office can be overwhelming. A new pilot program at Tufts Dental Facilities, a grantee of CareQuest Institute, is breaking barriers with home visits and telehealth, making dental care more accessible and personalized. Read the full story...

A new article in The Islands’ Sounder highlights Jessica Dubek, DDS, the founder of DentALL, who travels around Western Washington providing free dental services. Dubek and her team are now operating the Community Dental Clinic on Orcas Island. The Orcas Island Community Foundation launched a community dental program in 2012 after learning...

In this episode of The Burleson Box, Dustin Burleson, DDS, welcomes Erinne Kennedy, DMD, MPH, MMSc, Assistant Dean for Curriculum and Integrated Learning at Kansas City University College of Dental Medicine. Kennedy shares her fascinating journey into dentistry, which was heavily influenced by her family of dental professionals and her passion...

A new article in Axios explains how dental care for millions of people in the US could be one of the first casualties if the federal Medicaid budget is cut by $880 billion. Fluoridated water could be on the chopping block in many communities, too. Melissa Burroughs, CareQuest Institute Public Policy Director, explains how these two policy...

Danielle Apostolon, Program Manager, Value-Based Care at CareQuest Institute, explains the shift toward value-based care (VBC) in dentistry in this episode of The Patient Experience Blueprint Podcast. She explains how this VBC model prioritizes quality outcomes over the quantity of services, and how dental practices can adopt this approach to...

CareQuest Institute is raising concerns about potential Medicaid cuts that could impact millions of patients and dental providers. Reduced Medicaid funding may lead to limited access to care, lower reimbursement rates, and increased strain on dental practices. Read the full story...