NEW! NEW! NEW!
2010-2011
The Arc of Oakland County, Inc.
Board of Directors
Office/ Name / Term ends
Officers:
President Adah, Alex June 2011
1st Vice President Cheli, Ronald, Esq. June 2011 2ndVicePresident Marquardt, Suzanne June 2011
Secretary Mellott, Karen June 2011 Treasurer Rubin, Jerry June 2011
Past President Hans, Bijaya, Dr. June 2011
Delegates-at-large:
Brown, Gloria Edna C. June 2012
Duhoski, Bernadette June 2011
Fezzey, Susan June 2012
Gersh, Thomai June 2011
Kowalski, Lisa June 2012
Lias, Thomas June 2012
Loeffler, David June 2011
Scott, Barbara June 2012
Torrone, John June 2011
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Save the Date!
Golf for Autism
Monday, September 13, 2010
At Walnut Creek Country Club
All Proceeds to Benefit the Autism Society Oakland County
For more information and to view the invitation, please click here: “Autism Golf 2010 Invitation1”
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MEDICAID DENTAL:
MORC LEADS ADVOCACY EFFORT TO RESTORE MEDICAID DENTAL COVERAGE
The Macomb-Oakland Regional Center, Inc. (“MORC”) is leading a local effort seeking restoration of Medicaid funding for adult dental care in Michigan. Dental care for 1.5 million people was cut recently, affecting people with disabilities, people who are elderly and low income pregnant mothers. The State has cut $3.3 million in general funds which triggers a loss of $6.2 million in federal funds. Funds are cut for exams, cleanings, fillings, dentures and partials and for people who need anesthesia in a hospital setting. There is only funding for limited exams in emergency care and extractions, and reimbursement for these costs will be cut by 4%.
MORC serves 4,500 people with disabilities in Macomb and Oakland counties, many of whom are unable to brush their own teeth and cannot afford dental care. Here is what MORC staff learned from the similar dental budget cuts that occurred in 2003.
Budget Cuts Cause Suffering and Permanent Damage
A man died because a loose tooth he swallowed became lodged in his lungs.
A 27-year-old man lost all his teeth due to a gum infection, costing taxpayers $22,000.He will eat pureed food for the rest of his life.
A man, who could not explain what was wrong, hit his jaw so hard he broke it. When doctors repaired the jaw they discovered an abscessed tooth.
Poor oral health contributes to diabetes and heart disease and can cause extreme pain.
Bad teeth and no teeth often make it impossible to chew food, affect employability and are socially stigmatizing.
Budget Cuts Cost More Taxpayer Money
Rather than using the less expensive care in dental offices, an increasing number of people will be forced into expensive care through emergency rooms and hospital stays and need continuing, long term aftercare– all driving up health costs to taxpayers.
The Solutions
Please advocate restoring the dental funds to prevent further damage to people and before we lose the few dentists that not only accept Medicaid but are willing to provide care for people with disabilities. Please consider increases in reimbursement to attract and retain more dentists.
MORC welcomes the opportunity to talk about this subject. Please call Mary Jo Hollebrands, R.N., Nursing Supervisor at the Macomb-Oakland Regional Center at (586) 263-8769 or email maryjo.hollebrands@morcinc.org.
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