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Morning Briefing

Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations

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Friday, Feb 19 2016

Full Issue

Native Americans Make Push For Dental Therapists

Because many dentists don't take Medicaid, oral care can be difficult to get for Native Americans. But there might be a solution. In other news, about 1 million South Carolina residents were vulnerable to a cyberattack because of the an old computer system and poor safety measures at the state's Medicaid agency.

Marketplace: Why Native Americans Want A New Form Of Dental Care

It’s a sobering statistic: Native American preschoolers have four times more cavities than white children. Since many dentists don’t take Medicaid, because of low rates of reimbursement, it can be incredibly difficult to get care. (Gorenstein, 2/18)

The Associated Press: Review: SC Medicaid Agency Exposed Data To Cybertheft Risk

A four-decade-old computer system and poor safety measures at South Carolina’s Medicaid agency exposed the personal health information of roughly 1 million residents to risk of cybertheft, according to a federal report released Friday. The findings by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General include that the Medicaid agency did not — at the time of its evaluation in 2013 — have a security plan for its computer system, had no encryption for laptops and had not properly trained employees. The report purposefully did not give specifics. (Adcox, 2/19)

This is part of the Morning Briefing, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.
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