Community Budget Issue Requests - Tracking Id #748 Oral Health Initiatives-Indigent Dental Care - Shands- Eastside
Requester:	Frank Catalanotto D.M.D		Organization:		UF Health Science Center-College of Dentistry
Project Title:	Oral Health Initiatives-Indigent Dental Care - Shands- Eastside		Date Submitted:		01/25/2000 10:47:37 AM
District Member:	Betty Holzendorf		Service Area:		Regional
Counties Affected:	Alachua
Recipient:	University of Florida College of Dentistry		Contact:		Frank Catalanotto
	1600 SW Archer Road		Contact Phone:		(352) 392-2911
	Gainesville 32610
Project Description:
Currently only 17% of chldren 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 children have cavaities in their primary permanent teeth by age seven, 84% of children experience decay in their permanent teeth by ag 17, on 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 schol days occurs along with the possible residual effects of speech, nutrition, and psychosocial functions. Low income, high risk populations experience a disproportionate amount of dental disease due to a limited access to routine dental care. Early diagnostic preventive treatment services result in a more expensive treatment at a later date as well as the avoidance of the pain and suffering. Minor dental infections can proceed to various serious life threatening situations if left untreated. The purpose of this request is 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 an indigent care subsidy to treat underserved low income and low access patients at no or reduced fees and to use these patients as good teaching cases at Shands Eastside Community Practice ($50,000) in Alachua County.
Services Provided/Benefit to State:
There are a large number of patients in Florida in both rural an durban 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 access patients in community based settings, in this case the Shands Community Health Center at Eastside. We will use Department of Health guidelines in providing such are such that approximately $100 in such care will be provided per patient, thus $50,000 in support will provide care to approximately 500 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 250 patients,etc) The major benefits to the state include better oral health care to the underserved citizens of the state and enhanced educational opportunities for the state 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:				$50,000
Total cost of the project:		$100,000

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:	1999		Amount:		$50,000
Is future-year funding likely to be requested?						Yes
	Amount:	$100,000
	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:	SEE PROJECT DESCRIPTION
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