In Virginia, the Smiles for Children dental program provides comprehensive dental benefits for children (and pregnant women after March 1, 2015) who are enrolled in Medicaid and FAMIS. Smiles for Children operates the two programs so seamlessly it can be easy to forget that Medicaid and FAMIS are funded through separate federal programs. The State Children's Health Insurance Partnership (or “SCHIP”) is the federal program that enables FAMIS — the program that provides affordable medical and dental coverage to nearly 200,00 children and pregnant women in Virginia living in families earning too much to qualify for Medicaid (over $26,321/year for a family of three or 134% FPL) and less than $39,581 for a family of three or 200% FPL. Federal funding for FAMIS expires September 2015. If funding does not continue, the majority of those insured through FAMIS will lose their medical and dental benefits. Learn more.
Coalition staff joined a Virginia consumer and representatives from Voices for Virginia's Children, Virginia Consumer Voices for Healthcare, Virginia Organizing and CHIP of Virginia to tell Virginia representatives in Congress that funding SCHIP is vital to the health and well-being of vulnerable Virginians.
If you'd like to support these efforts, please add your organization's name to a letter in favor of a funding extension. for more information email your organization's information to Carrie Wampler.
Dental Benefits for Pregnant Women
VaOHC will continue to advocate to ensure that dental benefits for pregnant women enrolled in Medicaid and FAMIS, included as part of Governor McAuliffe's A Healthy Virginia initiative, remain in the Commonwealth's budget moving forward. There are several ways for you to get involved.
Providers: If you'd like to learn more about the Medicaid dental benefit for pregnant women — email Katherine Libby to request a webinar, in-service or educational materials for medical and dental providers.
Partners: View upcoming opportunities to learn more about the Coalition's legislative priorities and speak out for oral health.
