In 1991 Boston became eligible for the first round of HRSA funding under Title I of the Ryan White CARE Act. Oral health services ranked the third highest priority identified during a series of hearings to establish program priorities for funding. The HIV Dental Ombudsperson Program was established to respond to the needs of persons with HIV in the Boston EMA. In the first years, only metropolitan Boston was covered. The area expanded as HRSA redefined the EMA to current status which is Eastern Mass. and Southern NH excluding Cape Cod. Various efforts to provide oral health services beyond the Eligible Metropolitan Area (EMA) were fraught with frustration and some failure. This created a situation were geographic location determined the oral health of a persons with HIV. This created oral health disparities within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and not unexpected, client complaints. In recognition of this unequal access to oral health care, a collaboration was established between the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) and the Boston Title I EMA HIV Dental Program. The collaboration is intended to elliminate the oral health disparities in Massachusetts for those living with HIV. Funding for this collaboration is through the MDPH and the program is modeled after the HIV Dental Program. This model will be presented including modifications for the new area of coverage. A discussion of outreach methods to persons living with HIV, their providers, and dental providers will occur. The benefits of one centralized program to provide decentralized care will be reviewed.
Learning Objectives: To understand funding opportunities for oral health care for persons with HIV. To review creative ways of providing oral health care.
Keywords: Access,
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: none
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.