Jenny Kattlove

Santa Monica, CA– Today, The Children’s Partnership released an issue brief and action plan addressing the challenges Medi-Cal faces in providing dental care to children in California. The issue brief, Fix Medi-Cal Dental Coverage: Half of California Kids Depend On It, also stresses the impact that newly enrolled children will have on the state’s strained dental care system. “California’s Medi-Cal dental system is already struggling to serve children and is unprepared for what’s to come,” said Wendy Lazarus, Founder & Co-President of The Children’s Partnership. “California’s kids deserve real access to quality dental care—not a false promise of it.” The brief highlights the challenges facing Medi-Cal in providing dental care to children, examines the State’s efforts to address these problems, and provides an action plan to help the program serve its growing number of enrollees. 

Download the full press statement here . 

California Healthline

A national study released today by the Pew Center on the States, part of the Pew Charitable Trusts, grades every state's level of adherence to a basic preventive dental procedure for children -- the application of dental sealant. California earned a "C."

"So now there is no state-led assessment of children's dental health needs, or even a plan to take care of the needs of California children," Kattlove said. "You need to first identify the needs, identify the solutions and then work to address those solutions. That's not happening."

Download the article here.

Last week, Governor Brown vetoed SB 1050, authored by Senator Alquist, designed to improve the lives of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders through the deployment of telehealth. 

"Despite our disappointment, we continue to work to ensure that underserved children receive the health, dental, and other support services they need through the wise deployment of telehealth. Through successful policy changes that increase access to telehealth for families and on the ground demonstration projects, The Children’s Partnership is harnessing the benefits of technology to make a difference in the health and well-being of California’s children," said Jenny Kattlove, Director of Strategic Health Initiatives. Download the full statement here.

California Healthline 

Jenny Kattlove responds on SB 694, an innovation solution to address oral health access challenges for California's children in this week's Think Tank  of the California Healthline

Jenny Kattlove | July 2012

Telehealth refers to the use of technology to provide health care at a distance. The important and increasing role of telehealth in the delivery of health care has been recognized for several decades. Although there are fewer reports on the use of telehealth to deliver oral health services, evidence is emerging that these technologies can enhance the ability of the oral health delivery system to reach vulnerable and underserved populations.

Download the report. 

California Healthline

Download article here. 

CaliforniaHealthline

State Sen. Alquist's bill to establish a telehealth task force for autism passed the Assembly's Human Services Committee with a unanimous vote. "The biggest policy barrier right now is that some telehealth services are not reimbursed. We need to ensure that all types of telehealth services are reimbursed by both public and private payers," said Jenny Kattlove, Director of Strategic Health Initiatives. "As technology transforms the health care system, its applications give us an opportunity to ensure that children are not left out of the conversation."

Download the full article. 

Los Angeles Times

"The proposed California study should look at treating children in schools, using technology to expand care and developing two- or three-year training programs for dental workers," said Jenny Kattlove, Director of Strategic Health Initiatives.

Download the full article here.  

California HealthCare Foundation Center for Health Reporting

Does California need a state dental director?

California Healthline

Bill Would Explore New Tier of Dental Provider for California