The U.S. Senate today passed legislation which includes a bill introduced by Senator Susan Collins designed to improve access to rural dental health care. The Health Care Safety Net Act reauthorizes the Collins-Feingold Dental Health Improvement Act of 2002 and provides $25 million to continue the program over the next five years. The Collins-Feingold Dental Health Improvement Act was authored by Senator Collins and Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI) in 2002 and provides grants to states to help them develop innovative programs to strengthen the dental workforce in our rural and underserved communities.
“Dental care is an integral part of overall health care, and this funding will help improve the health of individuals in areas of Maine that are currently underserved,” said Senator Collins. “In Maine, there is one general practice dentist for every 2,300 people in the Portland area. The numbers drop off dramatically, however, in other parts of our state. In Aroostook County, for example, there is only one dentist for every 5,500 people. There is clearly a need to make oral health care services more accessible in our nation’s rural and underserved communities and this additional funding will help do just that.”
The Collins-Feingold Dental Health Improvement Act authorizes a State grant program, administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration, which provide funds to states to help improve access to oral health services in rural areas. For example, grant funds could be used for loan forgiveness and repayment programs for dental students who agree to practice in underserved areas, to establish or expand community or school-based dental facilities, or to set up mobile dental clinics. In addition, funds could be used for continuing education programs, such as distance-based education, which is accessible to rural dental students. Over the past three years, the Maine Department of Health and Human Services Oral Health Program has received over $300,000 in grant funding from this program.