By ONME News
SACRAMENTO – California State Treasurer Fiona Ma announced on Thursday the approval of $47.2 million in grant funding from the Specialty Dental Clinic Grant Program.
Administered under the California Health Facility Financing Authority (CHFFA), which Ma chairs as state treasurer, the program is designed to expand access to dental care for special healthcare needs populations across the state.
“These specialty dental clinics are essential in providing critical oral healthcare services to vulnerable communities," said Treasurer Ma. "Through these grants, we are ensuring that the children and adults in our communities with special healthcare needs receive timely, high-quality specialty dental care without unnecessary delays.”
The 13 new projects in 10 counties will develop approximately 124 new or newly renovated operatories, surgical suites, and/or operating rooms significantly expanding the capacity to serve special healthcare needs patients. Once completed, these projects are expected to increase access to oral healthcare for approximately 40,285 patients annually.
Initially announced by Treasurer Ma in July 2023, the Specialty Dental Clinic Grant Program is a $50 million initiative funded through allocations in the 2022-23 and 2023 24 state budgets. The program aims to support dental clinics specializing in care for children and adults, who have disabilities that prevent them from receiving routine or specialty care due to their physical, developmental, or cognitive condition.
Grant Recipients and Allocations
The following have been awarded funds:
901 P Street, Room 411B, Sacramento, Calif. 95814 | p 916.653.2995 | f 916.653.3125 | www.treasurer.ca.gov
• Alameda Health System (Alameda County): $4,350,000
• Amy H. Pham, A Professional Dental Corporation (Butte County): $2,618,186
• California Northstate University LLC (Sacramento County): $2,241,169
• Community Medical Centers, Inc. (San Joaquin County): $5,000,000
• Elmer Hilo II DMD Inc. (Los Angeles County): $3,186,889
• ImpowerDent SurgiCenters INC. (Imperial County): $5,000,000
• Janice Chen Dental Corporation (Riverside County): $4,500,000
• Luciane Queiroz DDS, Inc. (Kern County): $2,300,000
• Rajvir S Bhogal DDS Inc. (Sacramento County): $2,500,000
• Russell Seheult, D.D.S., A Professional Corporation DBA Redlands Dental Surgery Center (San Bernardino County): $2,910,000
• Regents of the University of California/University of California Los Angeles School of Dentistry (Los Angeles County): $4,200,000
• University of Southern California, Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry (Los Angeles County): $3,403,111
• University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry (San Francisco County): $5,000,000
Eligible uses of funds include the acquisition, construction, expansion, or modification of real property as well as equipment and furnishings.
These grants will expand access to dental care to those patients with physical, developmental, or cognitive disabilities. For example, those with cognitive disabilities can be treated in rooms that are more spacious, fitting for an individual with difficulties sitting still during treatment, and in facilities with a sensory-friendly environment designed to minimize sensory overload. Similarly, those with physical disabilities can receive necessary x-rays with specialized x-ray machines while the patient remains in their wheelchair and receive care in a comfortable manner in larger treatment rooms that are wheelchair or gurney accessible.
Comments