Robert E. Barsley, DDS, J.D. Director, Oral Health Resources Program Professor LSUHSC School of Dentistry Dental Health Resources Program, Box 510 1100 Florida Avenue New Orleans, LA 70119 Phone: 504-941-8206 Medicaid: 504-941-8209 Email: rbarsl@lsuhsc.edu

The LSUHSC School of Dentistry (LSUSD) Department of Oral Health Resources, in partnership with the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH), has three ongoing initiatives to improve the oral health of all Louisiana citizens.

Beginning in the early 1980s, DHH turned to LSUSD for advice and assistance in operating the state's Dental Medicaid Program. Faculty members contributed their expertise in developing the benefits and guidelines of dental care offered to eligible recipients. Over the years this relationship has matured into a contract under which Dental Health Resources' dental consultants oversee Medicaid prior approvals and contribute to the policy decisions and oversight of the Dental Medicaid program that today serves nearly 200,000 of the over 500,000 eligible recipients annually.