Delta Dental Foundation Creates COVID-19 Equipment Fund
INDIANAPOLIS (Inside INdiana Business) — The Delta Dental Foundation has announced the creation of the COVID-19 Dental Equipment Fund. The foundation says the $400,000 fund will be used to assist certain dental organizations in Indiana, Michigan and Ohio with COVID-19-related dental supplies.
DDF says safety-net dental clinics often are the only way the uninsured, underinsured and Medicaid beneficiaries can access dental care. DDF says due to the pandemic, many of these clinics are only operating on a limited capacity.
“Our goal is to ensure the most vulnerable can access dental care when they need it rather than going without— or visiting an emergency department,” said Holli Seabury, executive director of the DDF. “Hospitals are rapidly approaching capacity fighting COVID-19, making it imperative that we divert patients who should be treated elsewhere.”
The newly-established fund allows providers to retrofit their clinics with the proper equipment, including air purifiers, to enable them to reopen or to extend hours to see more patients.
The Foundation says funds can also be used to buy equipment for teledentistry, which offers patients access to a provider through a secure platform.
“The applications for teledentistry extend well beyond the pandemic,” said Dr. Jeff Johnston, senior vice president and chief science officer, “Teledentistry can help reduce wait times and makes it easier to provide specialist referrals, conduct outreach, and offer care to patients in remote locations.”
You can click here for more information and to apply. The deadline to apply for funding is February 7.