Policymakers and dentists have formed a task force aimed at creating more equitable access to oral healthcare for state residents, according to Maryland Matters.
The Task Force on Oral Health in Maryland met for the first time Sept. 13. The effort was developed under legislation co-sponsored by Delegate. Heather Bagnall, D-Anne Arundel County, and Senate Finance Committee Chair and state Senator Delores Kelley, D-Baltimore County. The task force must examine oral health in Maryland from multiple angles, including insurance coverage, race and socioeconomic status, geographic barriers to care and workforce development as they look for ways to expand access.
The task force must identify barriers preventing patients from seeking care and provide recommendations to the General Assembly regarding the expansion of services. An interim report is due to the legislature and Republican Gov. Lawrence Hogan Jr. on May 1, and final recommendations are to be submitted by Dec. 1, 2022.