The California Report: Health Dialogues
Poor dental health is a little-known but widespread public health problem in California, especially among low-income residents, immigrants and minorities. Since many low-income patients lack dental insurance and are struggling with other living expenses, they often hold out until they need emergency care.

There is a shortage of dental professionals who practice in low-income communities in California, and there are even fewer bilingual or minority dentists who can deliver the kind of "culturally competent care" that ensures healthy outcomes. Free or low-cost clinics that operate in underserved communities are often plagued by long lines and lengthy wait times - a bottleneck that leads to the proliferation of unlicensed dentists who set up illegal practices in their homes or stores.

How can we provide better access to quality care, and how can we encourage people to take advantage of it? What role should dental insurance play in California's health care system?

 

Call-In Program:
Wednesday, May 14, 2003 at 7pm

In this live, statewide call-in program, listeners from around California join host Scott Shafer and a panel of experts in a discussion about access to dental health care.

Guests:
  • Jared Fine
  • Beth Mertz
  • Stan Rosenstein
  • Ariane Terlet

To listen, tune in to KQED public radio or your local public radio station, or listen online with KQED's live stream. To join the on-air discussion, call 800-811-6830 during the broadcast.


Do you have a question that you would to like to have answered on the air during the live call-in program?


Special Report: Listen
Call-In Program: Listen


 
 
Note: This site is an archive of past Health Dialogues programs. View the new Health Dialogues Web Site here.

Underwritten by a grant from The California Endowment.
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