||| FROM HILARY CANTY |||
I am deeply grateful to the Hospital Taxing District for their support of our Community Dental Program. This pilot program provides dental care to neighbors who have medicaid or Apple Health patients, as well as those neighbors with no coverage.
The Hospital Taxing District is working with Island Health for billing support, which will secure a higher reimbursement due to the clinic’s classification as a rural health care clinic. The Orcas Island Community Foundation is able to underwrite care that is not reimbursed, thanks to donations to the Dental Fund.
Access to dental care is a critical healthcare need. Because none of our local dental offices accept Apple Care or medicare, and many of the off island clinics that do are not currently accepting new patients, many have simply gone without care. These Community Dental Clinics are a lifesaver for many of our neighbors.
The DentAll team, led by Dr Jessica Dubek, provided 40 day long clinics in 2024, serving 137 residents, both pediatric and adult. We anticipate that the number of community members served will increase in 2025. Without the support of Island Health and the Hospital Taxing District, we would not be able to bill at a rate that would sustain the program.
Please join me in voting YES for the Levy Lid lift and keep these clinics rolling.
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