Senate Community Budget Issue Requests - Tracking Id #670 Oral Health Initiative- Indigent Dental Care -Hialeah
Requester:	Frank A. Catalanotto, D.M.D.		Organization:		UF Health Science Center- College of Dentistry
Project Title:	Oral Health Initiative- Indigent Dental Care -Hialeah		Date Submitted:		01/27/2000 4:47:13 PM
District Member:	Roberto Casas		Service Area:		City/Town
Counties Affected:	Alachua
Recipient:	University of Florida College of Dentitry		Contact:		Frank A. Catalanotto
	1600 SW Archer Road		Contact Phone:		(352) 392-2911
	Gainesville 32610
Project Description:
Currently only 70% of childern and 4% of adults below 200% of the federal poverty levels have routine access to dental care. Dental disease is a chronic progressive bacterial infection that require access to community and school-based preventive programs and routine periodic dental care to improve and maintain good oral health. Dental disease is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases, virtually affecting everyone. 50% of childern have cavities in their prrimary permanent teeth by age seven, 84% of childern experience decay in their permanent teeth by age 17, only 8% of adults have no cavities. Dental disease affects the quality of life and continues to consume considerable health care resources. A child experiencing dental problems is at high risk for poor educational outcomes, loss of work and school days occurs along with the possible residual effects of speech, nutrition, and psychosocial functions. Low income, high risk population experience a disproportionate amount of dental disease due to a limited access to routine dental care. Early diagnostic preventive treatment services results in a more expensive treatment at later date as well as the avoidance of the pain suffering. Minor dental infections can proceed to various serious life threatening situations if left untreated. The purpose of this request to the Department of Health for funding is to contract these dollars to be used in support of the University of Florida College of Dentistry for indigent care funds to enable programs housed at the Hialeah Dental Clinic to see more patients at reduced or very low fees ($150,000)
Services Provided/Benefit to State:
There are a large number of patients in Florida in both rural and urban locations who do not receive regular oral health care because of financial or access problems. These funds will be used to support predoctoral and postgraduate dental students, supervising faculty and support staff from the University of Florida College of Dentistry in delivering oral health care to indigent/low income-low access patients in community based setting, in this case the College's main clinic in Hialeah. We will use Department of Health guidelines in providing such care that approximately $ 100 in such care will be provided per patient, thus $150,000 in support will provide care to approximately 1500 patients( note that since the college teaching programs call for comprehensive care, fewer patients may be seen but each will be provided more care, ie, $ 200 for 750 patients etc.) The major benefits to the state include better oral health to the underserved citizens of the state and enhanced educational opportunities for the states future dentists.
Measurable Outcome Anticipated:
This is a collaborative partnership model between the University and the Department of Health to increase access to dental care for low income low access patients.
Amount requested from the State for this project this year:				$150,000
Total cost of the project:		$200,000

Request has been made to fund:			Operations
Is there Local Government or Private match for this request?						No
Was this project previously funded by the State?						Yes
	Fiscal Year:	1998-1999		Amount:		$50,000
Is future-year funding likely to be requested?						Yes
	Amount:	$200,000
	Purpose for future year funding:				Recurring Operations
	Will this be an annual request?					Yes
Was this project included in an Agency's Budget Request?						No
Was this project included in the Governor's Recommended Budget?						No
Is there a documented need for this project?						Yes
	Documentation:	Shortage of dental care providers that see low income, low access patients and medicaid recipients
Was this project request heard before a publicly noticed meeting of a body of elected officials (municipal, county, or state)?						Yes
	Hearing Body:	Marion County Delegation, Public Hearing
	Meeting Date:	01/11/2000