Maine Governor Creates Oral Health Task Force
By newsdesk - Posted on September 17th, 2007
September 14, 2007 -- AUGUSTA – Maine Governor John E. Baldacci today created by Executive Order the Task Force on Expanding Access to Oral Health for Maine People. Recognizing that significant disparities exist in access to oral health services across the state, the Governor said that barriers to care must be identified and short- and long-term solutions found so that all Maine citizens can obtain these important health services.
Joined at the State House by Rep. Nancy Smith, and Sen. Nancy Sullivan, and the Maine Dental Access Coalition, Governor Baldacci said, “The need for this Executive Order is clear. While we’ve been working to improve oral health, a severe lack of access to such care continues to exist, and the availability of care is not evenly distributed across the state.”
The Governor outlined a number of initiatives that have been undertaken by the State and partners such as the Maine Dental Access Coalition to address this public health issue.
“We’ve worked together to increase the number of dental providers in designated dental health professional shortage areas, with funding programs to increase local capacity, and a state funded dental education loan program, among other strategies,” said Governor Baldacci. “The Coalition has been instrumental in guiding approaches to providing needed dental care, in MaineCare policies and procedures, and in an increased awareness among policy-makers, legislators, health professionals, and others of the role that oral health plays in total health. Maine also has a long-standing and well-respected school oral health program, administered by our state Oral Health Program.”
The Governor said more preventive health services are needed for the people of Maine. The dental health profession is not able to keep up with the populations’ needs throughout parts of the state.
Governor Baldacci’s Executive Order establishes a task force to identify barriers to access to oral health services and to make recommendations to expand access. Working with public and private partners, including members of the medical and oral health professions, the task force will report no later than Dec. 1, 2008, the recommendations to ensure that the opportunity for critical oral health services are available to all Maine citizens.
“Through this collaborative effort, I am confident we will find solutions to this long-standing access problem and that we can improve the health care of all Mainers, especially our children,” said Governor Baldacci.
The text of the Executive Order follows.
AN ORDER ESTABLISHING THE GOVERNOR’S TASK FORCE ON EXPANDING ACCESS TO ORAL HEALTH CARE FOR MAINE PEOPLE
WHEREAS, oral health is essential to the general health and well-being of all Maine people; and
WHEREAS, access to oral health care services and programs should be available to Maine people; and
WHEREAS, there is a severe shortage and maldistribution of oral health care professionals in the State of Maine; and
WHEREAS, Maine’s most vulnerable citizens do not have equal opportunity to access oral health care;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, John Elias Baldacci, Governor of the State of Maine, do hereby establish the Governor’s Taskforce to Expand Access to Oral Health Care for the Benefit of Maine Citizens (hereinafter “Task Force”).
Purpose
The purpose of the Task Force is to develop recommendations for short-term and long-term solutions to expand access to high quality oral health care programs for all Maine citizens, particularly children, the elderly, the underinsured and the uninsured. The Task Force must identify existing barriers to access and provide recommendations for removing those barriers and for expanding access to adequate oral health care for Maine citizens.
1. The Task Force shall review relevant data and information on the status of oral health in Maine, as well as national studies on access to oral health care. The Task Force shall define a multi-year systems development approach to improving oral healthcare infrastructure, access to dental services and oral health status in Maine.
2. It shall consult with public and private individuals and organizations that provide medical and oral health care currently for the purpose of building upon existing relationships and partnerships.
3. It shall develop and recommend short-term and long-term solutions to expand the oral health care provider workforce; provide more comprehensive public awareness and education programs; evaluate and improve oral healthcare delivery systems; and increase funding of and reimbursement for oral health care services.
Membership
The Governor shall appoint up to 16 members to the Task Force, who will serve at the pleasure of the Governor.
• The Commissioner of the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation or a designee who shall serve as Chair;
• The Commissioner of the Department of Health and Human Services or a designee;
• The Commissioner of the Department of Education or a designee;
• A representative of the Governor’s Office of Health Policy and Finance;
• Two members shall be public members not associated with a formal organization but who have an interest in oral health;
• A representative of a dental insurance company;
• A representative of the Maine Board of Dental Examiners;
• One member shall be a graduate level educator specializing in oral health education; and
• Seven (7) members shall represent the following organizations respectively--Maine Dental Association, Maine Society of Denturists, Maine Dental Hygienists Association, Maine Primary Care Association, Maine Medical Association, Maine Equal Justice Partners, and Maine Dental Access Coalition.
The President of the Senate may appoint two members of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House may appoint two members of the House of Representatives to serve. Members shall serve at the pleasure of their appointing authority.
The Chair will schedule, set the agenda for, and preside at Task Force meetings. All members shall serve without compensation.
Staff
The departments of state government named above shall provide appropriate staff to assist the Task Force.
Meetings
Public meetings in locations throughout the state will be scheduled and publicized, as needed.
Report
The Task Force shall submit a written report with recommendations to the Governor and the Joint Standing Committees on Business, Research and Economic Development and Health and Human Services no later than December 1, 2008, after which the Task Force shall dissolve.
Effective Date
The effective date of this Executive Order is September 14, 2007.
Source: Maine Governor
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