Plans for state’s first Rural Health Dental Clinic to be presented in Port Townsend

Jefferson Healthcare project to be detailed Oct. 15

PORT TOWNSEND — Plans for the first Rural Health Dental Clinic in the state will be presented to the public this month by Jefferson Healthcare during a community open house at the hospital.

The open house — set for 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, Oct. 15 in the Dirkson Conference Room — will offer virtual tours and details about design plans and dental services offered before the clinic is opened next spring.

Newly hired dental clinic manager Susan Gile will be available to answer questions during the event.

The clinic will be located at the Olympic Medical Office Building, which currently houses primary care and behavioral health, across from the hospital at 834 Sheridan St.

The clinic is being designed by Bainbridge Island firm Coates Design Architects.

The dental clinic received $1 million in state capital funding in May and a $250,000 grant from Delta Dental of Washington’s Arcora Foundation in June to begin the pilot program that will serve an estimated 3,000 children and adults annually in the six-chair office.

The intention is to integrate dental care with other aspects of health care to treat the entire person.

The clinic will offer basic dental services including cleanings, cavity fillings, extractions and x-rays.

“We are the first clinic in the state to operate in this way,” said Amy Yaley, Jefferson Healthcare director of marketing and communications.

“We will be remodeling the offices and the plan is to be operating in the second quarter of 2019.”

Yaley said recruitment for a dentist is underway.

She said that dental care for the under- and uninsured is one of the most critical health needs in east Jefferson County. Recent changes to the state Medicaid program now allow Rural Health Clinics to bill an encounter rate rather than a fee-for-service rate for dental services.

“The changes to the the state Medicaid program will allow us to provide dental care to the most vulnerable in our community who often are forced to delay care until they go to the emergency department. By integrating the dental services with primary care and behavioral health, we can provide whole-person care,” Jenn Wharton, chief ambulatory and medical group officer, said in a press release.

The Rural Health Clinics program was established by the federal government to stabilize access to outpatient primary care in underserved rural areas, according to the state Department of Health. Under the program, the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services designate private and nonprofit clinics meeting conditions for certification as Rural Health Clinics, which are eligible for enhanced Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement.

According to Jefferson Healthcare, Jefferson County has one of the lowest utilization rates of dental care services for Medicaid-eligible clients in the state. It ranked last out of 39 counties for five years. In 2017, the county moved up to 36.

Since the expansion of Medicaid, there are almost 9,000 Jefferson County residents — 2,400 of whom are children — who are eligible for Apple Health. Of those, only 21 percent received dental care, according to the hospital.

Currently, the county has no dentists who treat adults with Medicaid, according to the hospital.

The project has been made possible by support from state taxpayers, the Washington State Hospital Association, state legislators, the state Department of Health, the Arcora Foundation and the Dental Trade Alliance Foundation, according to the press release.

Legislative District 24 legislators Rep. Steve Tharinger, D-Sequim, and Mike Chapman, D-Port Angeles, and Sen. Kevin Van De Wege, D-Sequim, supported the need for the program in Jefferson County the press release stated.

________

Jefferson County Editor/Reporter Jeannie McMacken can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jmcmacken@peninsuladailynews.com.

More in News

KEITH THORPE/PENINSULA DAILY NEWS
June Ward, 10, examines a wooden paddle she is decorating as her father, Jack Ward of Port Angeles, works on his own paddle during a craft-making session on Friday at the Elwha Klallam Heritage Center in Port Angeles. The paddles are among the thousands of gifts being created for participants in the 2025 Tribal Canoe Journey, hosted this year by the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe. The event begins with the landing of dozens of native canoes at the mouth of the Elwha River on July 31 and continues with five days of celebration on the Lower Elwha reservation west of Port Angeles. As many as 10,000 indigenous peoples are expected to take part. The public is invited to help with giftmaking sessions, scheduled daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Heritage Center.
Canoe paddle crafts

June Ward, 10, examines a wooden paddle she is decorating as her… Continue reading

Ralph Henry Keil and Ginny Grimm.
Long lost sailor to be honored at graduation

An honorary diploma will be presented to the family of… Continue reading

Singers to workshop vocal instruments at Fort Worden

One hundred and fifty singers to join together in song

Jefferson County fire danger risk level to move to high

Designation will prohibit fireworks over Fourth of July weekend

Candidate forums to be presented next week

The League of Women Voters of Clallam County and… Continue reading

Port Townsend City Council candidate forum set for next month

The League of Women Voters of Jefferson County will… Continue reading

Jefferson County to host series of community conversations

Jefferson County will conduct a series of Community Conversations… Continue reading

Denise Thornton of Sequim deadheads roses on a flower display at the Sequim Botanical Garden at the Water Reuse Demonstration Park at Carrie Blake Park on Wednesday in Sequim. Thornton, a volunteer gardener, was taking part in a work party to maintain the beauty of the garden. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Rose display

Denise Thornton of Sequim deadheads roses on a flower display at the… Continue reading

Electric rates see big increase

Jefferson proposal approved for 4-year hike

Clallam Transit to receive $4M in grants

Agency to use funds on Strait Shot and other routes

Port Angeles council OKs sidewalk near park

Applicants to receive grant funding for one-third of total cost