Oral Health Kansas

Hosted by Oral Health Kansas, the Kansas Dental Association, and the Pathways to Oral Health team, join us on Tuesday, June 16 for a special webinar on Medicaid Value Added Benefits (VABs): What You Need to Know. VABs are extra perks offered by the three KanCare (Medicaid) managed care organizations (MCOs) on top of standard KanCare coverage. Each of the three managed care companies offers their own special benefits to people who join their plan and they’ll each take time to share what benefits they offer for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This is a perfect FREE CE opportunity for dental offices to learn more

Date: June 16, 2026
Time: 12:00pm – 12:30pm

Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/KZIM450OTHKwaQh_Hh0Ktg #/registration

Last week, Oral Health Kansas staff traveled to Washington, D.C. to meet with members of the Kansas Congressional Delegation and advocate for key federal oral health priorities.
During the visit, staff met with representatives from Senator Jerry Moran's office, Senator Roger Marshall's office, and each of Kansas' four Congressional offices.

A primary focus of the meetings was support for H.R. 210, the Dental Care for Veterans Act, which would make dental care a standard benefit for all veterans enrolled in the VA health system. Following our meetings, Rep. Sharice Davids signed on as a co-sponsor of H.R. 210.

The meetings also highlighted the importance of protecting Medicaid funding and preserving access to essential oral health services for Kansans. Oral Health Kansas hand-delivered the letter signed by 29 organizations urging Congress to prevent cuts to Medicaid dental care. The letter underscored the critical role Medicaid plays in helping children, adults, older adults, and individuals with disabilities access oral health services throughout Kansas.

In addition, staff advocated for S. 4008, the Promoting Dental Health Act, which would reauthorize funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Oral Health Program and help ensure oral health remains represented within federal public health efforts.

In Senator Moran's office, national partners from CareQuest Institute for Oral Health, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the American Institute of Disparities in Public Health joined Oral Health Kansas to meet with staff from the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee. Together, the group discussed the importance of expanding access to dental care for veterans, and the positive impact comprehensive dental coverage could have on overall health and quality of life.

These meetings provided an important opportunity to elevate oral health as a health equity issue and share the real-world impact federal policy decisions have on Kansas communities. Oral Health Kansas looks forward to continuing conversations with members of the Kansas Congressional Delegation and their staff as federal policy discussions move forward. We will continue working with national and state partners to advance policies that improve access to oral health care for veterans, protect Medicaid coverage, and strengthen federal support for oral health programs.

If you have any questions, you can email us at [email protected]

Have you signed up to learn more about Value Added Benefits (VABs)? What are Value Added Benefits and how can you talk to your patients about it?

Sign up now to learn more! Join us and the three Managed Care Organizations for a short, 30 minute webinar on VABs. It will be held on June 16 beginning at 12:00pm. You must register to join.

Oral Health Kansas, the Kansas Dental Association, and the Pathways to Oral Health team are hosting this event! If you have any questions, you can reach out to us at [email protected].

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