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Tackling Kentucky's Dental Dilemma

Kentucky has a problem with its national image.

 

Whether it’s a 20/20 news show or a made-for-TV movie, too often the face of our state is that of a person missing a mouthful of teeth.

 

We could object to the fairness of this stereotype -- it has led to ridicule and a misleading generalization of our state’s inhabitants.

 

And we could put forth for alternative consideration an array of Kentuckians who have made invaluable contributions in areas like science, medicine, literature and technology.

 

But let’s be honest. We have an image problem precisely because the reality underlying that image does in fact exist.

 

Oral health care is and remains a major health challenge for this state.

 

·    In 2004, Kentucky led the nation in missing teeth among people age 65 and older.

·    Some 27 percent of Kentuckians of all ages had lost six or more teeth to decay or gum disease, compared to nearly 18 percent nationwide.

 

Not surprisingly, these problems start at an early age:

 

·    In 2001, about half of Kentucky’s children had decay in their primary teeth.

·    46.8 percent of children ages 2, 3 and 4 had untreated problems such as a cavity or a missing tooth. That’s more than twice the national average.

·    And nearly 40 percent of these children had never seen a dentist.

 

Yes, the statistics are real.

 

They’re also unacceptable.

 

Dental problems are preventable. They just have to be a priority.

 

Today, we begin making them a priority with a three-year initiative that aggressively focuses resources on the causes of Kentuckians’ poor dental health, especially our children.

 

The Kentucky Oral Health program within the Cabinet for Health and Family Services has earned three federal grants totaling just over $1.6 million.

 

One grant is from the federal Health Resources and Services Administration. The other two come through the Appalachian Regional Commission.

 

We will use these grants to undertake a three-part strategy to improve the access of young patients to dental care and to improve Kentucky's overall dental health picture by tackling root causes.

 

One of the biggest challenges remains access. There are too few dentists, particularly pediatric dentists. In fact, only 28 of Kentucky’s 120 counties are home to a pediatric dentist. In addition, a limited number of dentists accept Medicaid patients. And, in many areas, transportation is inadequate.

 

Another challenge is attitude and education. Not enough people truly understand the link between good oral health and overall health.

 

And another challenge, quite simple, are poor habits. We, collectively, must develop better oral hygiene practices and better nutritional habits.

 

Now, how are we going to do this?

 

The first piece of the puzzle involves increasing the number of Kentucky dentists willing and able to treat patients under 6. Child patients pose challenges, but unless a dentist is specializing in pediatric dentistry, he or she receives only limited training in dealing with them.

 

The Kentucky Oral Health program, working with key stakeholders, will develop a curriculum that teaches effective pediatric technique.

 

A key strategy in the multi-faceted approach used in Washington state, this technique will be known as the “ABCD” initiative (or Access for Babies and Children to Dentistry).

 

Once Kentucky's curriculum is finalized, a series of seminars, Web-based training modules and mentors will assist local practitioners.

 

Incentives will also be offered to providers, at no cost to them, in the form of continuing education credits that all dentists currently must earn every two years.

 

So that's step one, getting the right training in place and making it available to dentists statewide.

 

The second step involves targeting counties in Appalachia, especially the 40 counties designated as “distressed,” with extra efforts.

 

The ARC funds can help financially offset the time taken off from practice for those dentists who participate in the ABCD training initiative.

 

Another component involves creating local coalitions to create and tailor oral health care programs to the specific communities.

 

This recognizes that because problems differ from county to county, what works in one county might not work in another.

 

These coalitions will work with local public health departments and other partners to assess dental health on the community level, propose and implement solutions and – incidentally – be eligible for additional benefits from the grants to support local priorities.

 

We anticipate being able to fund up to 12 such coalitions, which typically will include one county but could cross county borders.

 

Plans developed and tailored to the local level are more likely to bring real and sustainable progress.

 

And our third component, which will happen in year three, is to buy portable dental equipment that will be made available to ARC-distressed counties to increase access and utilization of dental services for both adults and children.

 

This is not a mobile treatment van like we usually envision, but instead the latest portable equipment that can provide a full array of dental services in nontraditional treatment settings like schools, child care facilities or senior citizens centers.

 

We expect to have at least two sets of this equipment initially, with hopes of obtaining more later.

 

Now, a few things about this oral health care initiative should be obvious.

 

One, this effort will have a lot of partners, on the local, state and federal level. That’s appropriate given the systemic nature of the problem, and it will increase our chances of success.

 

I want to acknowledge the hard work of our people at the Department for Local Government in helping to prepare the grant applications for working with ARC to secure funding.

 

I also want to thank our Congressional delegation for making sure ARC is awarded funds.

 

The second thing that should be obvious is that this problem won’t be eradicated overnight.

 

However, we do anticipate and expect to made measurable progress with this program. Thus we have set some specific goals.

 

For example, within three years of the start of the project, we expect to increase the number of dental visits by children up to 6 years old by 16 percent, as measured by Medicaid service reports.

 

We also want to reduce the decay rate by 15 percent in children in the distressed counties.

 

Other goals predict other outcomes.

 

The third realization is that this isn’t just a dental program, it’s a health program.

 

Teeth aren’t just for looks, and good oral health isn’t just cosmetic. It’s a key factor in overall health.

 

Poor dental health has impact far beyond lack of a pretty smile.

 

Studies show children with untreated pain and infection because of tooth decay often choose other foods, affecting their overall nutrition.

They also can have poor speech development; and they have lower performance in school.

 

You can’t learn under those conditions, especially when you miss school.

 

This program dovetails well with one of my highest priorities as governor, which is getting our children off to a good start in life.

 

Previously we began work on a program to bring health insurance to the tens of thousands of children whose families don’t have any.

Already more than 25,000 additional children previously uncovered have been signed on to Medicaid or K-CHIP, and that number continues to grow.

 

We’ve also created a task force to streamline our network of early childhood education and health services.

 

The simple fact is we owe our children the promise of a productive life.

 

Making good on that promise is a moral obligation, but it also will pay great dividend in creating a stronger state.

 

You know, we have severe financial challenges in state government, just like every state does.

 

But a down economy is no excuse. We must fight for our families. We must improve the lives of Kentuckians. We must move forward on fundamental problems holding us back.

Preparing the Commonwealth

Kentucky health officials have been closely monitoring developments involving the 2009 H1N1 strain since earlier this year, when officials around the world began to take note of its quick spread and potentially devastating impact.

 

Fortunately, we now know a whole lot more than we did last spring about this strain – who it targets, how it works – and we were fortunate that the number of cases of H1N1 in the spring and summer were relatively mild in severity in the Commonwealth.

 

But with schools back in session and the traditional flu season around the corner, we must be prepared for the H1N1 outbreak to potentially grow in severity and numbers.

 

Recently we announced the first flu-related death in Kentucky involving a Fayette County woman in her 50s. This woman had significant underlying health conditions – she didn’t just have the flu – but nevertheless this case reminds us of the seriousness of the situation we have on our hands.

 

So, there is no reason to panic, there is definitely reason to be concerned … and, as importantly, to be prepared.

 

The flu – no matter what the strain – has long had the ability to cause serious illness, and an estimated 36,000 Americans, including 400 to 500 Kentuckians, die each year from complications related to the flu, which by nature is an unpredictable illness.

 

What are we doing to help?

 

First, I recently summit of health professionals, educators, business officials and emergency responders to discuss the flu and the need for a coordinated, flexible and aggressive response.

 

More than 1,000 people attended.

 

The second action is a back-to-school campaign that stresses a simple approach – the best prevention is doing the basics.

 

Children are being instructed to wash their hands, cover their coughs and stay home when sick.

 

It’s the same approach we’re pushing to the general public, because our response to the flu begins at the individual level. All of us should assume – just like we do every year – that we may be exposed to flu any time we're out in public.

School officials are also taking other precautions – such as wiping down desks regularly  -- to limit its spread.

 

Because we know more about the flu’s symptoms, we’ve changed strategies a bit.

 

Back in the spring, public health officials were recommending – with the guidance of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – that schools and child care programs consider closing if they had just a handful of cases.

 

What we know now, however, is that the severity of illness caused by H1N1 is comparable to seasonal influenza. So at this time public health authorities are recommending that schools, day cares and businesses approach and treat H1N1 just as they would the seasonal flu.

Our third response deals with antiviral medications, which when taken early can reduce the length and severity of flu cases – or even prevent illness.

 

At this time, such medications are recommended only for those at the highest risk of complications from the flu.

If this illness becomes more serious and widespread, the state has a stockpile of antiviral drugs on hand that it would make available if a shortage of such drugs occurs in the commercial market.

 

In addition, we have already requested and received 25 percent of the medicines and supplies that the federal government would supply to the state in a true flu emergency.

 

Our experts and state agencies have been planning for the “worst case scenario” with pandemic flu for some time. While it doesn't appear that we will experience that with H1N1, there are plans in place to help the state cope if the situation changes.

 

The fourth response concerns vaccines.

 

We are working to make sure that a vaccine campaign targeting those at the highest risk from H1N1 will be ready to go as soon as the vaccine becomes available.

 

The CDC has said states could receive H1N1 vaccine as early as mid-October, and that the first doses should be targeted to pregnant women, caregivers of children six months or younger, health care workers, children from 6 months to age 24 and those with high-risk conditions.

 

Whereas the flu typically targets older people, the new flu strain seems to have the most impact on a younger population. Seventy percent of those who have been hospitalized with H1N1 in the United States to date have been under the age of 49.

 

In fact, it appears that at least some older people may have immunity to H1N1.

 

I know state and local public health agencies are working closely with physicians, hospitals and other providers to step up to the plate on this issue.

 

The bottom line is that our response – for it to be effective – must be coordinated and it must be comprehensive.

 

The careful preparation that has taken place in recent years by public health officials and others is allowing us to coordinate the appropriate response to protect Kentuckians

 

Kentucky is well positioned to respond with further prevention and treatment measures as needed, and we will do whatever it takes to keep our people healthy and safe.

 

 

Across the Pond to Wow the Crowd
As part of Kentucky’s preparation for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG), Jane and I will attend the 2009 Alltech FEI European Jumping and Dressage Championships in London, England.

The event in London represents one of the last major preliminary championships before the 2010 games, which will be hosted by the Commonwealth at the Kentucky Horse Park – the first time in history they will not be held in Europe.

With tickets going on sale to the public on Sept. 25, it’s imperative that Kentucky reaches out to the international equine community in a big way.

This event in London gives us a huge opportunity to begin wowing the crowd.

We have three goals: to reassure anybody nervous about the games leaving Europe that Kentucky knows how to host an international event; to give competitors, sponsors and spectators a taste of the many attractions Kentucky will offer; and to ramp up the interest in the weeks before the public ticket sale.

Already more than 84,000 hotel room nights have been requested in Kentucky for the 2010 games, and NBC Sports has already committed to 6½ hours of live network coverage.

Some 600,000 tickets are expected to be sold, with 1,200 to 2,000 media representatives from around the world expected to attend.

With financial help from Alltech, the Commonwealth will host the Kentucky Village in London. It will feature:

  • A literal taste of Kentucky, from hot browns to burgoo and mint juleps, not to mention Dippin’ Dots dessert.
  • Entertainment by Dr. Everett McCorvey, director of the University of Kentucky Opera Theater.
  • A section devoted to Kentucky travel and tourism with interactive displays of attractions like caves, lakes and parks.
  • The Bourbon Trail, where Maker’s Mark will offer two signature cocktails, tastings, and informative sessions on how bourbon is made in Kentucky.
  • Alltech’s Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale®, the Official Beer of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.
  • Demonstrations of the Alltech FEI Games’ equine disciplines.
  • Information about ticketing and travel arrangements for the 2010 WEG games.

It is a true honor to attend the European Championships this year, but we go with a serious mission – to show the world that Kentucky is in full-blown preparation for the 2010 games.

The return on this investment of time and resources will be tremendous.

The World Equestrian Games are composed of the world championships for eight equestrian sports. The Games are held every four years, two years prior to the Olympic Games, and are governed by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI).

The 2010 Games in Kentucky will be held from Sept. 25 – Oct. 10, 2010. For more information, see http://www.alltechfeigames.com/

Supporting Local Farmers, Buying Kentucky Proud

Last night, Jane and I had the chance to host a Kentucky Proud dinner at the Mansion for over 70 health care, education, local and state officials.

The purpose of our dinner was not only to showcase the amazing bounty that our Kentucky farmers produce, but to encourage guests to find ways to use local foods in their everyday lives and carry the message back to their respective institutions, encouraging employees and clients to do the same. 

Kentucky Proud is the state's official farm marketing program. Established in 2004, it has grown from just under two dozen members in 2004 to about 1,500 today.

University of Kentucky economists estimated last year that in its first three years, the program has resulted in almost $5.00 in new net farm income for every $1.00 invested. According to KDA figures, retailers participating in the Kentucky Proud program sold over $100 million in Kentucky food and agricultural products last year. 

Let's do our part to help our local Kentucky farmers and their families.

I challenge all of you to join Jane and me in a “30-day Challenge” to incorporate more local foods in your daily lives.   

Buying local is as easy as looking for the Kentucky Proud label at your grocery store, farmers' market, or roadside stand. Visit www.kyagr.com/kyproud/ to find Kentucky Proud products or to locate a farmers’ market near you.

Click the "Feedback" button to let me know what you are doing to add more local foods to your meals, as well as tell others about the importance of local eating.

I'll be posting some of the reader suggestions here on the blog as a way to share insight and tips. Eating locally and Kentucky Proud is all about community. I'm excited that Jane and I are helping to lead the way.

Balancing our Books, Planning for the Future

By the end of this fiscal year on June 30, Kentucky's budget shortfall--in the face of an increasingly tough economy--grew to more than $500 million.

Such a harrowing number is unlike any we had ever seen here in the Commonwealth.

However, unlike many states, we have been able to balance our books without using State Fiscal Stabilization stimulus dollars.

We closed our budget books for the fiscal year ending June 30, erasing a $55.7 million additional shortfall in the budget and nearly $37 million in the Road Fund without the use of any federal stimulus dollars.

These dollars will be critically important over the next two budget years in helping fund priorities such as education, health care, public safety and economic development.

Nationwide, the federal stimulus bill has provided states with $48.6 billion to help stabilize budgets in order to minimize and avoid reductions in education and other essential public services. Kentucky has access to $651 million of these stabilization stimulus dollars.

Many states chose to use their federal funding in FY 2009 to help balance their budgets.

In contrast, we plan to use about $358 million of stimulus funding in the current fiscal year, FY 2010, to address an estimated $1 billion shortfall.

Additionally, the General Assembly in the recently completed Special Session authorized state agencies to make additional cuts to balance the FY 2010 budget.

As a result, Kentucky has almost $300 million available in stimulus funding to use for the FY 2011 budget that will be considered in the upcoming General Assembly session, starting in January.

Kentucky has acted wisely and prudently in downsizing government, while working to maintain funding for key priorities.

As a result, we have hundreds of millions of dollars in stimulus funding to use this year and next year. We will need those funds as Kentucky – like all states – continues to grapple with a stubborn economic recession.

Weekly Recap: July 19, 2009

One of my favorite parts of serving as Governor is having the opportunity to get out across the state, talk with Kentuckians and celebrate the ways we are making the Commonwealth a better place for today and tomorrow.

This week, I was able to do just that.

Tuesday, under sunny skies in Cadiz, I unveiled plans for the design of two bridges that will carry US 68/KY 80 across Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley. The twin basket handle, tied-arch spans will be unique in Kentucky.

Click here to see the distinctive design.

Also that day, I had the chance to celebrate our efforts championing Kentucky's rich heritage and history. Joined in Bowling Green by area leaders and preservation advocates from across the state, I signed legislation that will increase incentives for historic preservation in Kentucky.

The legislation brings about changes to the Kentucky Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program, which is administered by the Kentucky Heritage Council/State Historic Preservation Office. The key change increases the cap on tax credits the program offers from $3 million to $5 million a year.

This legislation is set to encourage citizens, businesses and local governments to continue to work to preserve Kentucky’s great history. We want to help Kentucky communities and businesses use historic structures so we can keep our downtowns vibrant while at the same time preserving the past.

I had the great opportunity Wednesday to join forces with Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels in Louisville to announce and ceremonially sign new legislation aimed at finding a way to finance the Louisville-Southern Indiana Ohio River Bridges Project.

This immensely important piece of legislation envisions extraordinary cooperation on “mega-projects” that serve both neighboring states and is an essential step toward financing such projects.

What a great example of collaboration and cooperation at its best.

At the Ford Motor plant in Louisville on Thursday, I ceremoniously signed the new car trade-in allowance that goes into effect this fall.

This piece of legislation could make buying a new car a little easier for many Kentuckians.

Under an incentive in HB 3, passed by the General Assembly during the 2009 Special Session, anyone who trades in a used car for a new car can have the trade-in value deducted from the total consideration given in determining a new vehicle’s retail price subject to motor vehicle usage tax.

The trade-in allowance may be utilized for new vehicles purchased Sept. 1, 2009 through Aug. 31, 2010.

Having the opportunity to celebrate all our recent successes has made this week a particularly memorable one.

Despite these difficult economic times, we are truly leading the way here in Kentucky with creativity, resilience and fortitude.

Welcome, Dr. Holliday!

I met with Dr. Holliday this morning to discuss one of my administration’s highest priorities: the education of our children.

I was impressed with his commitment to and passion for education and I look forward to working with him. I appreciate the Board of Education’s diligent work over these last months while searching for a new education commissioner.

Dr. Holliday is a very capable and distinguished educator and administrator. I welcome him to Kentucky where he will work with some of the best classroom instructors and school administrators in the nation.

Weekly Recap: July 12, 2009

While summer usually is a season meant for a slower pace, vacations and relaxation, here in Frankfort and across the state this July has been a time of immense activity as exciting new economic opportunities and programs are unveiled for Kentuckians.

Wednesday, I announced a new tax credit that goes into effect this month that could give some Kentuckians thousands of dollars back on the purchase of a new home.

It’s been a really tough year for a lot of Kentuckians. When the legislature met last month, it decided it had to do something to help. This tax credit will go a long way in helping those who qualify become homeowners.

The New Home Tax Credit is an inPidual income tax credit and applies to a “qualified buyer” who purchases a home on or after July 26, 2009 and before July 26, 2010.

The tax credit is designed to help inPiduals who are buying a home but don’t qualify for the federal first-time homebuyer credit allowable under the Internal Revenue Code. Under the federal program, the home must never have been occupied and must be the principal residence of the qualified buyer for a minimum of two years. The buyer can get up to a $5,000 credit under this program.

My commitment to helping Kentuckians any way possible during this period of widespread financial hardship is unwavering. This program will allow many from across the state to achieve their dreams of home ownership.

Also this week Kentucky sent representatives to Bethesda, Md., to discuss H1N1 preparedness efforts with federal Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and leaders from across the country.

Joined by Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, Education Secretary Arne Duncan, and Homeland Security Advisor John Brennan, Sebelius and federal leaders hosted an all-day H1N1 Flu Preparedness Summit to further prepare local, state and national leaders for the possibility of a more severe outbreak of H1N1 flu.

The Summit was the first step towards a more encompassing national influenza campaign, and aimed to bring together emergency responders, business owners, educators and others together with public health experts to build on and tailor states’ existing pandemic plans.

Staying on the forefront of preparedness and prevention efforts is necessary.

The opportunity to share best practices with other state and national leaders is an important opportunity for Kentucky officials. Through this collaborative effort, we will be able to respond more effectively to the threat of a future outbreak in Kentucky as well as nationally.

All this is in addition to the ceremonial bill signings of film incentives legislation as well as the portion of House Bill 3 that will help position Kentucky to best attract a NASCAR Sprint Cup race.

I'm looking forward to continuing this momentum into next week and beyond.

Keeping Up To Date...

Lately, there have been several articles discussing how useful Twitter can be for staying connected and opening up lines of communication using new technologies.


While Twitter continues to grow and expand in its popularity, I want to ensure that every possible way to reach out to Kentuckians across the state is utilized. This includes new media outlets, like Twitter, blogging and beyond.

It's important we keep our conversations going.

Follow my Twitter account today by clicking here.

Leaps and Bounds: Positioning KY for Economic Growth

The past 48-hours have been a whirlwind of ceremonial bill signings and celebrations, as important pieces of legislation passed during the Special Session positioning Kentucky as an unmatched economic leader officially were ceremoniously signed into law.

Yesterday, joined by my wife, Jane, and film industry advocates from across the Commonwealth, I ceremoniously signed House Bill 3, which includes incentives designed to attract movie productions and other film industry opportunities to the Commonwealth.

Surrounded by the striking grandeur of Keeneland, I was reminded of all the opportunity we have here to take advantage of our state’s strongest features: its stunning natural beauty, its signature industries, its vibrant urban areas and rural back roads, its unique culture and its musical and sports heritage.

This legislation will offer Kentucky communities and small businesses a great opportunity when it comes to film production, with incentives that will bring more film production companies to Kentucky, promote tourism and economic development.

Kentucky has hosted three major motion pictures in last decade—“Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story,” “Elizabethtown” and “Seabiscuit.”

Since the passage of this legislation, Kentucky has been in communication with production companies that have expressed interest in filming in Kentucky due to these enhanced incentives.

The Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet film office records indicate a total of 233 days of filming took place in Kentucky during 2007 with a direct economic impact of $3.1 million. This figure includes dollars spent in Kentucky directly tied to the production, including crew wages, location fees, set building materials, hotels, craft services, catering and set design materials.

The overall economic impact of hosting a major motion picture is much greater due to the ripple effect of that investment. Film production companies typically hire local businesses to help with needs such as set construction, food services and transportation, which are also not reflected in these numbers.

The bill also makes the incentive available to companies that spend at least $500,000 to produce feature films or television shows in Kentucky and makes commercials and documentaries eligible with required spending levels reduced to $200,000 and $50,000, respectively. Broadway Shows produced in Kentucky for national tour are eligible for incentives with at least $50,000 in qualified expenditures.

Today, against the backdrop of the Kentucky Speedway, I ceremoniously signed another portion of House Bill 3, which gives the state its best shot yet at attracting a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race.

Attracting a NASCAR Sprint Series Cup race to Kentucky would be a huge economic win with an immense impact for our entire state.

The legislation – also proposed and passed during the recently completed special legislative session --includes a provision to amend the Kentucky Tourism Development Act to add a new eligible category of so-called “legacy expansion” projects.

Legacy expansion projects must conduct events that are in the top league, series or sanctioned level of their type of event, provide permanent seating for 65,000 spectators and be broadcast nationally. The venue must have previously been approved for incentives and the expansion project must exceed $30 million and present one or more “premier events” not previously held in Kentucky.

NASCAR is not only the number one spectator sport in the United States, it also attracts an international audience through its broadcast in more than 150 countries and 30 languages.

I am excited to have the opportunity to position Kentucky through these two pieces of legislation with a stronger foundation today and a better economic tomorrow.

This is the kind of outside-the-box, creative thinking for economic development to which I'm committed. Big things are coming our way.

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Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear

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