G-2411-22191

The Fund for a Healthier Colorado (TFHC) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that seeks to advance policy that improves the health of Colorado residents. TFHC engages their Colorado constituents by conducting voter outreach and providing easily accessible educational materials with the goal to engage Coloradans and to educate state decision makers about actions needed to improve the physical, mental, and social health of all.

With CareQuest Institute’s support in 2022, TFHC passed SB 22-219 authorizing the practice of dental therapy. Through meetings with the Colorado Dental Board, TFHC recommendations were incorporated into the final dental therapy licensing rules approved in May 2023, which uphold the policy goals of the legislation. These include stacking credentials for dental hygienists interested in becoming dental therapists, creating a streamlined process for dental therapists to practice under general supervision, and not limiting where dental therapists can practice or who they can treat. In 2024, TFHC continued its advocacy for changes to the Medicaid State Plan amendment to ensure dental therapists can be reimbursed for services, in addition to defensive advocacy against budget cuts to the adult oral health benefit within our Medicaid program.

TFHC will also preserve progress for the new profession of dental therapy by engaging in the upcoming re-examination of the statewide policy that governs the scope of practice and related issues within oral health in Colorado. This involves ensuring that provisions regarding dental therapy remain unharmed from TFHC's perspective. TFHC will engage key stakeholders, including dentists and dental hygienists, to protect these provisions. Additionally, TFHC will secure the launch of a dental therapy program at Pikes Peak State College (PPSC). This involves helping PPSC secure the resources needed to continue their march toward program launch by gaining perspective on community and employer needs, making the market case for this new profession, and making the community benefits case. TFHC will obtain feedback and buy-in from key stakeholders, including oral health employers, foundations, and insurance companies.

By engaging with a diverse range of stakeholders, TFHC aims to create a comprehensive understanding of the barriers to oral health care and develop actionable strategies to improve access and outcomes for underserved populations. The findings from these efforts will be shared through various channels, including webinars, publications, and online promotion. TFHC will also present these findings at statewide, regional, and national conferences and gatherings. These efforts will help initiate discussions on legislative policy changes around oral health and social determinants of health with Colorado policymakers.

The budget for this proposal is $100,000, which represents 7% of TFHC’s overall budget. Funding will support staff time, educational content development, stakeholder engagement, public education, and advocacy efforts.