TCP’s report outlines recommendations for the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), which is the department administering Medi-Cal. In addition to recommending that the department take steps toward higher reimbursement rates, TCP has suggested workforce solutions, like employing other dental professionals who work under the supervision of dentists (comparable to nurse practitioners). The expansion of teledentistry, or using technology to provide dental care at a distance, is another possible solution for serving remote areas.
Anthony Cava, a spokesman for DHCS, says that the department plans to perform a “network adequacy assessment” prior to the transition of children from Healthy Families to Medi-Cal, and that children will not be transitioned until DHCS is sure that the program is adequate to serve the additional children.
“DHCS continues to work with advocates to improve its dental program and is expanding its dental provider network to ensure access to dental care services for all children enrolled in Medi-Cal,” says Cava. The department did not respond more specifically to questions about the number of dentists accepting Medi-Cal.
Kattlove and The Children’s Partnership remain concerned. “We believe that the Department of Heath Care Services has a mandate that all children enrolled in Medi-Cal get the dental care they need. The legislature should hold the department accountable,” she says.
Kattlove believes that this could be a first step toward mandating adult dental coverage as well. “By having an overall action plan to ensure that all kids access their dental care, we can help put the issue of adults on the table … Adults need that care and end up in the emergency room because they can’t afford preventative visits. We also know that when parents access dental care, their children are more likely to access dental care,” she says.
Today, almost three months later, Christa Perry’s son has still not been treated. Perry, who both underwent a hysterectomy and had an aneurysm this winter, is not sure when she’ll be on her feet again.
“He keeps saying, ‘Mommy, my cheek hurts,’ and I don’t know what to do,” she says.
In 2006, over 25 youth began participating in weekly after-school writing workshops where they congregated in the hallway of a two-story building in West Fresno and learned the essentials of creating media and telling their stories. The group evolved over the next five years and is now proudly recognized as The kNOw Youth Media.
Through our program, we create opportunities for our youth participants, who in turn create long-term positive change in their communities. Our approach weaves youth development and youth media innovation to produce our biannual youth publication, multimedia projects, and community forums.
The kNOw began as a project of New America Media, which was the country’s first and largest national collaboration and advocate of 2000 ethnic news organizations. In 2018 The kNOw became a project of Youth Leadership Institute.
