September 24, 2018

OHCA Contact: Jo Stainsby - (405) 522-7474; Katelynn Burns - (405) 522-7266

OHCA hosts 12th annual dental event

Anadarko - An annual dental evaluation and health screening event co-sponsored by the Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA) at the Riverside Indian Boarding School helped about 534 students get dental exams and supplies.  

The OHCA was joined by the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH), Indian Health Services (IHS), Absentee Shawnee Tribe, Little Axe Health Center, and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma (BCBSOK) to sponsor the 12th annual event. New to the list of sponsors this year was the American Heart Association (AHA).    

”I am very pleased this event has grown to include nearly ten different partners that share the common goal of improving the health status of the Riverside students,” said Dana Miller, OHCA Tribal Government Relations Director.      

Students received onsite dental evaluations, eye screenings, behavioral health screenings, and body mass index (BMI) measurements. They also received information discussing the effects of using tobacco on their teeth, gums and body. Students also learned how to achieve and maintain good oral health. Any follow up care needed for the students was coordinated by the Indian Health Service.       

OHCA staff extends appreciation to Colgate-Palmolive who donated toothbrushes and toothpaste, Little Axe Health Center who provided dental floss, and all partners who provide education and supplies to promote healthy living.    

To learn more about OHCA and its programs, please visit www.okhca.org.

The Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA) administers two health programs for the state. The first is SoonerCare, Oklahoma’s Medicaid program. SoonerCare works to improve the health of qualified Oklahomans by ensuring that medically necessary benefits and services are available. Qualifying Oklahomans include certain low-income children, seniors, the disabled, those being treated for breast or cervical cancer and those seeking family planning services. The second program OHCA operates is Insure Oklahoma, which assists qualifying adults and small business employees in obtaining health care coverage for themselves and their families. Currently, there are 815,069 Oklahomans enrolled in OHCA’s programs.   The agency contracts with a network of 47,073 providers. For more information, visit www.okhca.org or www.insureoklahoma.org.