From the #deltadentalARFoundation: What will it take to move Arkansas from the bottom in oral health to close to the top?

Dozens of sticky notes—bright orange and pink—may point toward a solution. 

They are vital to an almost year-long project developed in partnership with the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute to expand access to dental care for many more Arkansans. The idea was originally conceived by the Delta Dental of Arkansas Foundation, which also provided a Strategic Initiative Grant to implement it.

The Institute received funding to create a playbook detailing best practices for nonprofit dental clinics in Arkansas to begin billing and accepting third-party payments for services, including Medicaid and private insurance.

Since spring, it has convened regular meetings with 11 charitable dental clinics from across the state to explore the challenges and opportunities of third-party billing for nonprofit dental care clinics. What worked in the past, what didn’t, and why and why not? 

Hence the sticky notes. 

Along the way, these clinics have learned from each other and shared best practices and resources for addressing the oral health needs in their respective communities.

“Throughout Arkansas, the existing oral health care system cannot meet the demand for dental services among our most vulnerable populations,” said Meghann Ray, the Institute’s program officer. “We must try implementing new strategies that could result in significant change.”

Significant change indeed.

The project has the potential to enable free dental clinics to expand their services sustainably and serve more members of their communities. Third-party billing would generate a new, reliable income stream to fund operations such as salaries, rent, equipment and more—all of which would allow for greater clinic utilization rates to treat more people and offer more services.

Why is this a goal? 

Why don’t many free dental clinics bill already, preferring to rely on grants and donations to fund their operating expenses?

Key reasons include:   

• limited staff and resources
• patients who lack proper identification or documentation required by third-party payers and 
• the (widespread but mistaken) fear of losing 501(c)(3) status. 

On track for completion by year’s end, the playbook will address all these concerns and provide a comprehensive guide that charitable dental clinics can use to implement third-party billing. 

If—thanks to this guide—their billing programs prove successful, the clinics will most likely generate additional revenue streams to invest in expanding services—enabling more underserved Arkansans to benefit from access to dental care. 

Wow. What ideas for transformational change does your organization have to improve the oral health of Arkansans? Perhaps a Strategic Initiative Grant is right for you. Describe your idea to start the conversation here.

This story was first published on our Facebook and Instagram pages.  

ADDENDUM:

The Winthrop Rockefeller Institute published the playbook in early 2024. We are excited to share it with you here for free viewing, downloading and sharing.