The Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) and DentaQuest, the state’s Medicaid dental benefits administrator, are working closely with dental providers to encourage participation in the initiative. Providers wishing to serve Medicaid members can call 1-888-912-3456 or visit the Dentaquest website for information on credentialing and enrolling in the Medicaid provider network.

“Throughout the pandemic, DentaQuest has been committed to our mission of meeting oral health needs across the country. This campaign provides a kid-specific opportunity to learn lessons they can carry with them and live a healthy lifestyle well into adulthood.”

Dr. Barefoot is a clinical leader at DentaQuest, one of the nation’s largest oral health organizations working to improve the oral health of all. The ideal VBC program design is one that can be easily incorporated into the day-to-day operations of the office with minimal extra effort. In such a program, the office understands and embraces the VBC objective of improving population health and recognizes that outreach to its assigned patients is an important aspect of the program. The ideal program also means that any modifications made to participate in it aren’t disruptive to the patient experience.

It comes as no surprise to anyone that the oral health profession continues to lack diversity. According to the American Dental Education Association, in 2016, only 15.2% of the applicants to dental school were from underrepresented populations. Steve Pollock, CEO of DentaQuest, discusses the specific steps DentaQuest is making to make a difference for a diverse future in dentistry.

George Barker and Myechia Minter-Jordan column

By Dr. Michael Monopoli

The first in a two-part series focusing on how CEOs can lead health care organizations in using data to improve disparities, social determinants and community partnerships. Myechia Minter-Jordan, MD, President and CEO, DentaQuest Partnership for Oral Health Advancement, cautioned against confusing race data with lower income. “We know very clearly that some of the inequities within Black and Brown communities exist regardless of income, particularly as you think about maternal mortality, etc.,” Minter-Jordan said.