The Title V child health agencies receive funding specifically dedicated to oral health. The dental funds may be used to strengthen local oral health infrastructure and/or to provide basic dental services to uninsured and underinsured children.
Dental services may be provided through referrals to dentists who agree to provide limited restorative and preventive care to the child health clients. Reimbursement to dentists is based on the Medicaid (Title XIX) fee schedule. To be eligible for these funds, a child cannot be eligible for the Medicaid program, must be uninsured or underinsured for dental care, must be enrolled as a Title V child health client, and the child's family income must meet the guidelines established by Iowa's Title XXI program.
Dental services may also be provided through dental hygienists who are employed or contracted by the Title V agencies. Services include oral screenings and fluoride varnish applications, and are often provided at WIC clinics and in Head Start classrooms. Medicaid reimburses Title V child health agencies for screenings and fluoride varnish applications provided by a dental hygienist to Medicaid-enrolled children, ages 0-20.
Child health agencies strive to improve access to dental care for children through ongoing care coordination. This includes educating families about good oral health, assisting families with scheduling dental appointments, assisting families to find transportation to appointments, providing translation services, and reminders about follow-up of dental appointments and other services.
Additional information on the Title V MCH programs is on the Bureau of Family Health web page.
