Frameworks for Advancing Health Equity: Dental Health Care Access

In this episode of Managed Care Cast, The American Journal of Managed Care^® (AJMC^®) speaks with 2 public health dental hygiene practitioners whose work is helping reshape access to oral health services across Pennsylvania. Doree L. Rossey, BS, PHDHP, RDH, a public health dental hygiene practitioner and dental care manager supervisor with UPMC Health Plan, and Crystal Siebka, RDH, PHDHP, COA, also a dental care manager at UPMC Health Plan, discuss the goals and evolving strategies behind the organization’s Dental Care Management Program—an initiative designed to increase access to preventive oral health care, strengthen oral health literacy, and ultimately reduce the need for restorative treatment through proactive education and community outreach.

Rossey describes the program’s guiding philosophy: meeting members where they are, understanding their needs, and building strong dental homes that support long-term oral health. She highlights the importance of outreach tailored to individual members and communities and the value of collaborating with dental providers throughout the state. These efforts are particularly critical in rural areas, where provider shortages and limited transportation options often leave families without reliable access to routine dental care.

Siebka expands on these efforts by describing several innovative initiatives that have emerged in recent years. During the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, she and her team developed interactive oral health education tools to keep children and families engaged despite school closures. She also details collaborations with Child and Youth Services designed to support vulnerable children and discusses the expansion of school-based dental programs under Act 55—an opportunity to bring preventive services directly into classrooms and reach students who might otherwise go without care.

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Also read part 1 and part 2 of the interview.