Saturday, April 5, 2025
4/5/2025
Ryan White Title III HIV Capacity Development and Planning Grants - KC CARE Health Center (KC CARE) respectfully requests $150,000 for a one-year period to support the addition of dental telehealth services into our HIV Primary Care Program. The addition of dental telehealth will expand the capacity of high-quality oral healthcare available for patients with HIV. It is increasingly critical that KC CARE grow their capacity to meet the oral health needs of people with HIV due to these patients being at a higher risk of dental diagnoses such as periodontitis, gingivitis, tooth decay, and oral cancers; for patients with HIV that are 50 and older that risk increases. In 2021, nearly 50% of Ryan White beneficiaries were age 50 or older, and projections for 2030 estimate nearly 67% of beneficiaries falling in this age range. The intersections between aging and HIV further increase the risk of the aforementioned dental diagnoses and compromised overall health. KC CARE will purchase equipment and supplies needed to implement dental telehealth services including an intraoral scanner that will capture high-quality digital impressions of the oral cavity; and an intraoral camera that will capture high-resolution images of the oral cavity. Additionally, the project will fund a telehealth dental hygienist and oral health coordinator on-site at KC CARE’s HIV Primary Care Clinic. The hygienist will complete the initial assessment and intraoral imaging prior to connecting the patient to a dentist virtually. The Oral Health Coordinator will coordinate referrals and appointments for patients with HIV, as well as coordinating outreach to KC CARE patients with HIV not currently enrolled in oral healthcare services. This project will be led by KC CARE’s Chief of Clinical Operations with the support of her Oral Health Manager, Oral Health Coordinator, and the support of the Ryan White Project Director. Teledentistry services will support the continued growth of KC CARE’s Oral Health Program, including patients with HIV. KC CARE anticipates serving an additional 100 patients with HIV through teledentistry, an increase of 90% from 2023. The Chief of Clinical Operations and Project Director will monitor key indicators to ensure KC CARE is reaching priority populations—including people who are Black or African American and people who are transgender or nonbinary—and that patients are receiving the care they need and improving health outcomes.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).