Isle dental task
force forms plans for
oral-care access for all
By Helen Altonn More than 40 public and private stakeholders in Hawaii's oral health are collaborating to address the state's serious dental disease problems.
haltonn@starbulletin.comHawaii's children have one of the highest rates of dental cavities in the country, said Dr. Russell Masunaga, past president of the Hawaii Dental Association. Low-income adults can only receive emergency dental care, he said.
Hawaii's ratio of one dentist per 1,257 residents is favorable, Masunaga said, but all urban and rural areas have a shortage of dentists willing to treat the neediest populations.
Lack of community water fluoridation contributes to the problem, he said, noting only the military bases have fluoridated drinking water.
Members of the Hawaiian Islands Oral Health Task Force recently described the "first steps" of an action plan to the House Health Committee.
A full legislative package to support the priorities and goals will be presented to the 2004 Legislature, they said.
Dr. Stanwood Kanna, of Kauai, plan leader, said its strength is "in the collaboration and consensus building that went on in the drive for a common goal ... to design a plan of action intended to raise the level of oral-health wellness in all our communities."
In recent years, Masunaga said, "Many voices called attention to oral health needs, but the lack of consensus among concerned parties impeded progress."
Hence, creation of the Oral Health Task Force last year with a goal of reaching consensus and developing what the group calls a "2-4-6-8 Action Plan ... The First Steps."
It contains two priorities, four goals, six agreements and eight recommendations.
The two major priorities are to assure available and accessible oral health care on all dislands and improved oral wellness through education and disease prevention.
The task force has agreed to work for legislation to reinstate comprehensive Medicaid adult dental benefits and provide tax incentives for licensed dentists to serve underserved areas and populations.
Participants agreed to a moratorium this year on any legislation concerning dental licensure while the group designs a legislative package addressing licensure reform for the next session.
Dr. Mark Greer, state Dental Health Division chief, said the task force will work with the state Health and Human Services departments to try to get providers in underserved areas.
House Health Chairman Dennis Arakaki (D, Kamehameha Heights-Kalihi Valley) said he believes more people lack insurance for dental care than medical care.
He said legislators are looking at tapping the state's tobacco settlement funds to finance oral-health programs and strategies. They are also pursuing temporary licensure for dentists for underserved areas and health centers, but they have not been successful, he said.
One of the major task force goals is licensure reform, Masunaga said.
While the task force participants represent different perspectives, Dr. Linda Rosen, deputy health director, said, "There is a high level of commitment by all parties in the plan."
She said the Health and Education departments began a program last month under a three-year grant to increase availability and planning of health services in schools.
Beth Giesting, executive director of the Hawaii State Primary Care Association, said the task force "is trying to improve the oral health of everybody" and that the primary-care association is working with health centers to increase their oral-health capabilities.