-
A mockup of what the new mobile dental unit will look like once built in 6-8 months. PHOTO/KEN JACKSON
The elderly of Osceola County will be able to get the denture services they need close by – and possibly for reduced cost if their insurance policies don’t cooperate – thanks to a new Community Health Services program and a grant of federal and county dollars.
Osceola Community Health Services received $500,000 in funding Thursday, coming from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) , county commissioner betterment funds, and $200,000 from Commission Chair Viviana Janer’s federal targeted recovery effort funds. Janer made a presentation Thursday at the Osceola County Health Department.
Health Services will launch a mobile unit for a dental and denture program that will provide more local access to care for underserved populations, especially those 65 years and older. The mobile unit will be a newly-built trailer built from scratch, said Community Health Services Chief Dental Officer Dr. David Ferro. He noted it should be complete in 6-8 months, and ready to serve patients by the beginning of the fall.
Part of the funding from Janer is to be used for vouchers for direct financial assistance for residents who need help with any co-pays, or unmet costs because of a lack of insurance, county officials said.
“I’ve had a vision to expand the Osceola County Healthy Seniors program,” Janer said Thursday. “Caring for their teeth is necessary for our seniors. I’ve been hearing from residents that they need to fix their partials or dentures, and they have no way to do that, because it’s not necessarily covered by their Medicare.”
The program is available countywide, with available payment plan options based on income and insurance status. For the uninsured, the cost will be based on their level of income. The idea of the mobile unit is to cut down on travel for older patients to which just the long ride to a dentist’s office could hinder their chance to get proper care.
“Being mobile is important to me. I discussed with (county Health Department Director) Belinda Johnson-Cornett about doing a mobile unit, which could move around to where those seniors are located, and provide that service,” Janer said. “We came up with the plan, and we’re about to kick it off and get that unit ordered and provide affordable dentures to any resident of Osceola County who needs them.”
Ferro said that, once up and running, the mobile unit should be able to serve about 300 patients per year. Initial appointments will last about an hour, with occasional 30-minute follow-ups. Seniors should receive their new dental units six to eight weeks from their initial appointment.
