Publications by authors named "Tessa Heeren"
Introduction: Older adults living in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) often have poor oral health and difficulty accessing dental services. The aim was to implement a virtual dental home (VDH) program for residents in two LTCFs utilizing asynchronous teledentistry techniques and mobile dental equipment.
Methods: This pilot project was a 6-month longitudinal cohort study in two LTCFs.
Medicaid Dental Benefits for Pregnant People and Dental Care Use Among Very Young Children.
Matern Child Health J
September 2024
Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the association between Medicaid dental benefits for pregnant people and dental care use among very young children in Medicaid. We hypothesized that children living in states with more generous dental benefits for Medicaid-enrolled pregnant people would be more likely to have a recent dental visit.
Methods: This national cross-sectional study used pooled 2017-2019 data from the National Survey of Children's Health, as well as state Medicaid policy data.
Background: Accountable Communities of Health (ACH) models have been popularized through Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) grants, including the State Innovation Model (SIM), to encourage the development of community-based coalitions across medical, public health, and social service delivery systems. These models enhance care coordination for patients and are better equipped to address Social Determinants of Health (SDH) needs.
Methods: Network data was collected from participating organizations in seven ACH sites established across Iowa.