The I-Smiles Dental Home Project   

Sara Schlievert,  Iowa Department of Public Health    

On May 12, 2005,  the Iowa Legislature passed a bold Medicaid reform initiative called "IowaCare," which was signed into law by Governor Vilsack.  Included within the IowaCare legislation was the following mandate:          "By July 1, 2008, every recipient of medical assistance who is a child twelve years of age or younger shall have a designated dental home and shall be provided with the dental screenings and preventive care identified in the oral health standards under the early and periodic screening, diagnostic, and treatment program."                                   In response to this legislation, the Iowa Department of Human Services partnered with the Iowa Department of Public Health, the Iowa Dental Association, the Iowa Dental Hygienists' Association, Delta Dental of Iowa, and the University of Iowa's College of Dentistry to develop a proposal that would fulfill the dental home mandate. The result is called the I-Smile Dental Home Project.  Phase I of the I-Smile project is now underway,  This phase will focus on increasing the case management capacity of Iowa's Title V system, a network of public health agencies responsible for coordinating and tracing dental care for uninsured, under-insured, and Medicaid-enrolled children.  Each agency will be hiring a dental hygienist as an Oral Health Coordinator.  The coordinator will streamline communications between dental practices and parents; address issues such as patient compliance; and provide caries risk assessments, preventive dental services, and patient education.  Key to the success of the I-Smile project will be collaboration between the Title V public health agencies, dental professional, schools, WIC clinics, Head Start centers, and other community partners.  We would appreciate your support. The benefits will be substantial for Iowa's underserved children!                                                                                                         For more information about I-Smile and possible Oral Health Coordinator positions, please contact the Oral Health Bureau at 515/281-3733 or your local Title V agency for assistance.  A map of the regional Title V public health agencies can be found at:  www.idph.state.ia.us/webmap/default.  A summary of the I-Smile project can be found at www.idph.stat.ia.us/hpcdp/oral_health_ismile.asp

The I-Smiles Oral Health Coordinators must possess a current license to practice dental hygiene in Iowa.

While the duties may vary with the size and location of the area served,  general duties include:

• Working with agency care coordinators to develop protocols for informing newly-eligible medicaid enrollees about dental services.
• Ensure completion of a risk assessment on newly eligible Medicaid-enrolled children under age 22.
• Ensure care coordination services for Medicaid-enrolled.
• Work within community to strengthen public health dental system-develop partnerships, participate in health planning and needs assessments.
• Link with the local board of health, assisting in assessment, policy development and assurance of local oral health projects
• Provide education and training for healthcare professionals regarding children's oral health
• Provide screenings and fluoride varnish application as gap-filling services for children
• Provide training and oversight for other staff involved with oral health services