Let’s Make a Federal Case out of Oral Health

CTeL (Center for Telehealth and e-Health Law), a 501 (c)(3) non-profit research institute that focuses on the legal and regulatory aspects of digital health, is pleased to announce the launch of its Oral Health Coalition, which aims to promote the integration of virtual care technology in oral health. Despite being one of the pillars of healthcare, oral health has not received the policy attention it deserves. CTeL hopes to change this by educating policymakers and healthcare stakeholders on the benefits of virtual oral healthcare. 

A note from our partner, The TeleDentists regarding CTel's Oral Health Coaltion:

The Teledentists is excited to be a founding member of CTeL’s Oral Health Coalition, which aims to promote the integration of virtual care technology in oral health at the federal level. Despite being one of the pillars of healthcare, oral health has not received the policy attention it deserves. Together with CTeL (The Center for Telehealth and e-health Law in Washington, DC), we hope to change this by educating policymakers and healthcare stakeholders on the benefits of virtual oral healthcare.

Recent advancements in digital health have allowed for the virtual examination and treatment of oral health conditions, providing access to care for millions of Americans. The American Dental Association (ADA) has issued updated guidelines to broaden the understanding and documentation of teledentistry events, including guidance and insights on two full CDT codes for synchronous and asynchronous modalities.

CTeL's Oral Health Coalition will further this momentum through agnostic education, research, and action. The coalition's goals include educating the oral healthcare community on legal and compliant telehealth practices, improving interoperability of patient records, conducting cost-benefit analysis of virtual oral healthcare, and sharing research with stakeholders on how digital oral healthcare interventions can be improved.

The coalition also aims to engage with policymakers on the importance of integrating telehealth into the oral healthcare system, educate Medicaid offices and private insurers on the benefits of increasing reimbursement coverage for patients and providers, and provide access to care through oral telehealth interventions.

"There is a strong case for the expansion of virtual oral healthcare," said Christa Natoli, CTeL’s Executive Director. "It increases access to care for patients, particularly in underserved rural and urban areas”. “It also saves costs by decreasing unnecessary ER visits for preventable dental emergencies and helps to alleviate the clinician shortage by directing patients to appropriate oral healthcare specialists,” explained CTeL's Advisory Board Member and founding coalition member, Dr. Maria Kunstadter, DDS, CEO, The TeleDentists.

Learn more about membership in CTeL's Oral Health Coalition HERE or by clicking on the image below.