56 - Integrating Oral Health Care and Primary Care Learning Collaborative: Project Framework and Early Findings

Description: Accessing and utilizing oral health care can be challenging for pregnant women, especially for those with low socioeconomic status. To respond to the need for oral health care among pregnant women, the Integrating Oral Health Care and Primary Care Learning Collaborative: A State and Local Partnership project was launched. The collaborative consists of nine state oral health programs and a local community health center (CHC) prenatal clinic in each state that are focusing on integrating oral health care and primary care. This presentation will explain the value of integrating oral health care and prenatal care to improve pregnant women’ access to and utilization of oral health care. Information will be shared about the project’s framework and preliminary findings, including state-level capacity factors that facilitate the integration of oral health care and primary care (e.g., health professional education and training, workforce, scope of practice, Medicaid reimbursement). In addition, steps to develop, implement, and evaluate a program for prenatal care providers and team members to deliver oral health care at CHC prenatal clinics will be shared. The project is administered by the Consortium for Oral Health Systems Integration and Improvement, led by the National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center working in partnership with the Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors and the Dental Quality Alliance.

Source of Funding:: The project is funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration.