State Government Initiatives to Improve Oral Health for Older Adults
Speaker
Samuel Zwetchkenbaum, DDS, MPH, serves as Dental Director in the Oral Health Program at the Rhode Island Department of Health and in the RI Medicaid Program. He received his bachelor’s degree from Brown University, his dental degree from the University of North Carolina, and his Master of Public Health from University of Michigan. He completed a Fellowship in Geriatric Dentistry through the New Jersey Institute for Successful Aging. Dr. Zwetchkenbaum taught at University of Michigan School of Dentistry from 1995-2012 and directed the General Practice Residency program, which provided dental care for adolescents and adults with special health care needs and trained numerous dental students and residents in this area. Sam has provided clinical care in a variety of settings, including community health centers, hospitals, nursing homes, and private practice. He is a past president of the Special Care Dentistry Association and is now chair of the Healthy Aging Committee of the Association for State and Territorial Dental Directors.
Disclosure: Dr. Zwetchkenbaum has no relevant financial relationships to report.
Course Description
This presentation will introduce work in state oral health programs and state Medicaid programs to improve oral health for older adults. We will review grant funding that state programs apply for for support through the Health Resources and Services Administration and the Centers for Disease control and Prevention. We will review how Medicaid programs are a state:federal partnership and processes to encourage improvement. We will also review a project Rhode Island is currently developing to improve oral health for older adults in home settings.
Educational Objectives
- Discuss functions of state oral health programs and how they fit into state health departments
- Review how state Medicaid programs can support initiatives to improve oral health for older adults.
- Describe work in Rhode Island to improve oral health for older adults living in home and community based settings.