{"id":1633,"date":"2025-10-31T23:23:25","date_gmt":"2025-10-31T23:23:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lavoz.us.com\/homepage\/?p=1633"},"modified":"2025-10-31T23:23:59","modified_gmt":"2025-10-31T23:23:59","slug":"bridging-the-gap-medi-cal-dental-and-vision-care-and-the-fight-for-equitable-health-in-california","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lavoz.us.com\/homepage\/american-community-media\/bridging-the-gap-medi-cal-dental-and-vision-care-and-the-fight-for-equitable-health-in-california\/","title":{"rendered":"Bridging the Gap: Medi-Cal Dental and Vision Care and the Fight for Equitable Health in California"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

While millions of Californians qualify for free dental and vision care through Medi-Cal, only a fraction use these benefits \u2014 a gap that reveals deep inequities in access, awareness, and trust within the state\u2019s healthcare system.

In a briefing titled \u201cToo Many Californians Are Missing Out on Free Medi-Cal Dental and Vision Care \u2014 Let\u2019s Change That\u201d<\/em>, held by American Community Media<\/a>, three leading voices from the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) and advocacy group Children Now examined why so many residents fail to access essential preventive services, and what can be done to change that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The panel featured Donny Shiu<\/strong>, Vision Program Chief at DHCS; Dana Durham<\/strong>, Dental Division Chief at DHCS; and Eileen Espejo<\/strong>, Senior Managing Director of Health at Children Now<\/em>. Together, they offered a comprehensive view of how dental and vision care intersect with CalAIM\u2019s mission: creating a person-centered, equitable healthcare system that keeps communities healthy \u2014 before illness strikes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prevention, Equity, and the Power of Information<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Durham opened with a stark fact: \u201cOnly one in five adults on Medi-Cal uses their dental benefits each year.\u201d<\/em> For her, this underuse is not about indifference but about information gaps, fear, and structural barriers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMany Californians don\u2019t know that they qualify for free cleanings, checkups, or eye exams,\u201d she explained. \u201cIf you have Medi-Cal, you never have to pay for dental care. Ever.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That message, simple yet powerful, underscored a broader challenge. Even when coverage exists, misinformation and logistical barriers \u2014 from language to appointment coordination \u2014 keep patients away. To counter this, DHCS has expanded its tools, including the multilingual \u201cFind a Dentist\u201d<\/strong> app and the Smile California<\/strong> hotline, which helps patients schedule appointments and navigate coverage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re working to make it easier for dentists to enroll as Medi-Cal providers,\u201d Durham added. \u201cFor years, bureaucracy discouraged participation. Now, the system is simpler \u2014 and the goal is clear: more providers, more access, more care.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Durham also addressed a recurring misconception \u2014 that dental care is somehow separate from overall health. \u201cBleeding gums can signal diabetes. Poor oral health can worsen heart disease,\u201d she warned. \u201cIntegrating dental care into general health is essential. Oral health is overall health.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Donny Shiu<\/strong>, vision services are a critical but often overlooked part of public health. \u201cWe want every Medi-Cal member to know that vision care is included \u2014 exams, glasses, follow-ups. It\u2019s all part of keeping families healthy and thriving,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shiu connected this effort to CalAIM<\/strong>, a statewide initiative transforming how Medi-Cal operates. \u201cHistorically, the system was fragmented and reactive,\u201d he noted. \u201cCalAIM is about seeing the person as a whole \u2014 not just treating illness, but preventing it. It\u2019s a complete shift toward proactive, integrated care.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That holistic approach also extends to community partnerships. Shiu emphasized the importance of collaboration with schools, clinics, and local health workers to reach families who may face linguistic or geographic barriers. \u201cEquity starts with access,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd access starts with trust.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Children, Schools, and the Hidden Cost of Neglect<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In the second half of the briefing, Eileen Espejo<\/strong> turned the spotlight to California\u2019s children \u2014 a group whose oral and vision health directly affects their learning, well-being, and social development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen a child has a cavity, it\u2019s not just about pain,\u201d she said. \u201cThey might struggle to sleep, eat, or even speak clearly. They might miss school. Studies show that poor oral health is linked to chronic absenteeism \u2014 and that means lower academic performance.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Espejo cited evidence showing that oral infections among children can lead to cascading effects: missed classes, lost work hours for parents, and declining confidence among students. \u201cIf a child feels embarrassed about their teeth, they might stop smiling or socializing. It becomes a mental health issue too,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her organization, Children Now<\/em>, has been working to close these gaps through school-based programs and legislative advocacy. By integrating dental and vision screenings into school health systems, Espejo believes children can receive preventive care early \u2014 before problems become emergencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And, crucially, all<\/em> children in California are eligible for Medi-Cal coverage, regardless of immigration status. \u201cEvery child under 19 qualifies for dental and vision services,\u201d she emphasized. \u201cThat\u2019s the law. But too many parents don\u2019t know it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Language, Culture, and the Fear Factor<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Throughout the discussion, panelists agreed that fear \u2014 not cost \u2014 remains one of the biggest barriers. For immigrants and low-income communities, distrust of institutions, language barriers, and lack of culturally competent care often prevent access.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSome families don\u2019t go to the dentist because they think they\u2019ll be billed later,\u201d Durham explained. \u201cOthers can\u2019t find a provider who speaks their language or offers appointments outside work hours.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shiu and Espejo both stressed the importance of culturally tailored communication. \u201cParents trust their pediatricians,\u201d Espejo noted. \u201cSo we\u2019re training doctors to talk to families about oral and vision care. The message is simple: preventive care is safe, free, and vital.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To reinforce this message at home, Children Now<\/em> promotes tools like the \u201cBrush, Book, Bed\u201d<\/strong> initiative, which encourages parents to brush their children\u2019s teeth, read a bedtime story, and create nightly routines that strengthen both oral hygiene and family bonds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPrevention starts at home,\u201d Espejo said. \u201cEven wiping a baby\u2019s gums before teeth appear helps. It\u2019s about education, not fear.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The panel closed with a call to action \u2014 for journalists, community leaders, and healthcare advocates alike. \u201cTalk about these programs,\u201d urged Durham. \u201cIf you know someone who qualifies for Medi-Cal, tell them their benefits are free. Tell them where to find care. Awareness saves lives.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shiu echoed that sentiment: \u201cDental and vision care are not luxuries. They are fundamental to human dignity. Every checkup, every pair of glasses, every cleaning \u2014 they all build healthier communities.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

While millions of Californians qualify for free dental and vision care through Medi-Cal, only a fraction use these benefits \u2014 a gap that reveals deep inequities in access, awareness, and trust within the state\u2019s healthcare system. In a briefing titled \u201cToo Many Californians Are Missing Out on Free Medi-Cal Dental and Vision Care \u2014 Let\u2019s […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1635,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[686],"tags":[1277,196,1968,1702,1967],"class_list":["post-1633","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-american-community-media","tag-american-community-media","tag-california","tag-dental-care","tag-medi-cal-2","tag-vision-care"],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lavoz.us.com\/homepage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1633","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lavoz.us.com\/homepage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lavoz.us.com\/homepage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lavoz.us.com\/homepage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lavoz.us.com\/homepage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1633"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/lavoz.us.com\/homepage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1633\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1634,"href":"https:\/\/lavoz.us.com\/homepage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1633\/revisions\/1634"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lavoz.us.com\/homepage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1635"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lavoz.us.com\/homepage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1633"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lavoz.us.com\/homepage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1633"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lavoz.us.com\/homepage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1633"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}