Siletz news /, April 01, 2003, Page 17, Image 17

“Cha-may weeya
Medicine Talk
Siletz
Communit
Health
Clinic
Tooth Talk
by Linda Kreutzer RDH
Sealant Project Coming Up
The Siletz Community Health
Clinic is offering a very special service
to first- and second-graders at Siletz
School. To receive sealants, all children
need to do is have a their parent or
guardian sign a permission form. The
children will be routed to the clinic to have
sealants placed on their teeth for free!
The clinic supports the idea of
preventing tooth decay before it
happens. The Dental Sealant Project
will take place on April 16.
What are dental sealants?
Dental sealants are thin, white­
colored plastic coatings that are applied
to the chewing surfaces of the back
teeth. Most tooth decay in children and
teen-agers occurs in these back teeth
(molars). Before decay can begin,
sealants are placed to fill in the small
grooves in the molars.
Which teeth are suitable for sealants?
The teeth most likely to
benefit from sealants are
the permanent molars.
First molars come into
the mouth when a
child is about 6
years old. These
molars are meant to
last a lifetime, but
too often begin to
decay soon after
erupting in the mouth.
Sealants prevent decay.
After an examination, a dentist
will decide which teeth can be sealed.
Does it hurt?
Absolutely not! Receiving a sealant
is quick and easy. Application requires
no shots or drills. The tooth first is
cleaned with a special liquid. Then
the sealant is “painted” on the
tooth. The material goes
on as a liquid (it flows
into the cracks of the
tooth), then hardens
with help from a
special fiber optic
light. A finished
sealant is almost
invisible and cannot be
felt by the tongue.
How long does it last?
One sealant application can
last for as long as five to 10 years. Your
dentist should check your sealants once
a year to make sure they’re in place.
Sealants have been used for more than
20 years. They have proved very
effective in preventing decay. Ask your
dentist if your children can get sealants.
With regular brushing and flossing -
and sealants - a child may never have a
cavity or need a filling.
If your child attends Siletz School,
ask the school secretary for a Sealant
Parent Permission form. Several
permission forms are already in. The
school will accept completed and
signed forms until April 15. Don’t let
your child miss out on the lifetime
benefits of sealants.
Oregon Health Plan Changes Affect CHS
In January, CHS staff attended an Oregon Health Plan (OHP) meeting that
introduced upcoming plan changes. The news was so devastating CHS met to
prepare a screening process for all CHS patients who do not have any insurance.
Effective March 1, 2003, the OHP will no longer cover vision, dental,
audiological (related to hearing aids), non-emergent transportation, durable medical
equipment, A&D, mental health, and pharmacy (durable medical and dental are
covered for January and February, but dental has a $500 maximum).
Premiums and co-pay are mandatory for people in the standard benefit
package, $2 per visit and $250 per inpatient stay. Native Americans are exempt
3.
4.
5.
6.
Documentation will be placed in a binder by date of stamp and
documented on page 11.
After 45 days of the documentation entering the binder, a second
notice will be sent to the patient and entered on page 11.
After the 46,h day from the date of the OHP application, services will be
put on hold and the patient will not receive a pre-authorization number.
90 days after the documented OHP screen, if there is still no indication
of compliance, the visit will be canceled and a letter of denial will be
sent for failure to apply for OHP.
from both.
Coverage will no longer be effective retroactively, paying back to the date
stamped on the application. In previous years, CHS saved thousands of dollars
using this program by date stamping applications at the time of a medical crisis.
This is no longer effective. Because of this change, CHS will seek approval and
implement the following policy.
5.1 Mandatory use of alternate resources:
A. An individual is required to apply for an alternate resource if there is a
reasonable indication that the individual may be eligible for the alternate
resource by OHP screening or admitted to the hospital for more than
If you do not understand this policy or the changes, please contact the CHS
office. Remember, the community health advocate in your area is available to
help with the application process. The three most important things to remember
when applying for OHP are - enclose a copy of your Social Security card, a
copy of your tribal ID, and a copy of your income verification. These are
mandatory documents.
We ask that all programs take a pro-active approach to this change and help
clients/patients with the OHP application process. This is so very important to
save your CHS program.
24 hours without a primary resource and OHP is available.
Waiving the alternate resource requirement is allowable if the health
director has income documentation that clearly indicates a patient is
over-income for OHP.
B. Refusal to apply for alternate resources when there is a reasonable
possibility that one exists or refusal to utilize an alternate resource
requires the denial of eligibility and payment for CHS and will apply as
followed below.
1. The CHS technician will do OHP screening.
2. If you are under the income guidelines, an OHP application will be
mailed to you and stamped for that date.
1.
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Share Your Tobacco Story
The Tobacco Prevention and
Education Program wants your story!
This year, the TPEP program is
looking for elders, kids and teens, and
people of all ages, anyone who has
ever quit smoking or struggled with
quitting smoking to share your story.
Many of us have gone through the
process of quitting smoking. It would
be a great benefit to have some of those
stories shared with the tribal mem­
bership and with our young people.
Call De Anna Pearl, Tobacco Pre­
vention and Education coordinator, at
541-444-9661 or 1-800-648-0449, ext.
661, with any questions. Thank you.
April 2QQ3
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Siletz News
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