The Mayor’s Office of Homeless Services has declared a winter shelter warning for Sunday, February 16, 2025, at 4 pm until Friday, February 21, 2025, at 9 am. Call 211 (available 24/7) or 443-984-9540 to connect with shelter. Get more info here.

X
Dental care is health care

03.04.16

February marked nine years since the death of 12-year-old Marylander Deamonte Driver. His death made national headlines because he was a child who died of a toothache. And he died of a toothache because his family was poor, in and out of homelessness and uninsured,  and could not access dental care.

Health Care for the Homeless Dental Director Tom Stack recalled Deamonte’s story while recently testifying before the Maryland Senate Finance Committee on the importance of access to dental care. It was the anniversary of Deamonte’s death—February 25—and Stack noted that the outcome for Deamonte today would likely be no different; it just wouldn’t make national news because he would no longer be a child. Despite improved access to dental care for young people under Medicaid expansion, very little in the way of adult dental care is covered by insurance today in Maryland.

That dental care is largely uncovered by insurance is a huge barrier to overall health and health care for vulnerable individuals and families like Deamonte.

The dental programs at our Downtown and West Baltimore clinics are currently the only two dental operatories in Maryland that provide care exclusively to people experiencing homelessness. And for most of the people we see, this care is not reimbursable through insurance. We provide the care “because we have prioritized[it] for our patients as an agency,”  Stack told legislators. But the demand is much greater than our ability to meet it, and we raise significant private dollars to help fund it.

“In 2015 our dental clinic saw 977 unique patients, and 559 of those patients were enrolled in Medicaid. Our total costs to the agency were $627,000, and our total reimbursement through Medicaid was $56,000. We operated at a $440,000 loss,” Stack testified. “This is what it looks like financially to truly provide care to all, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. And even with this investment, we are only able to provide comprehensive dental care to about 10% of our total patient population.”

Dental care at Health Care for the Homeless is funded primarily by public and private grants and the support of our compassionate community. But without adult dental coverage under Medicaid in Maryland, access to this lifesaving resource will remain out of reach for so many like Deamonte Driver. 

“Dental care is health care,” Stack told the lawmakers in the room. And he got a lot of nods. Now we just have to turn those nods into action. The legislation he testified on was to create a task force to study access to dental care in Maryland. Maybe we could skip the study and get straight to work at getting dental care covered under Medicaid in Maryland. To give our Dr. Stack the last word:

“We can do better.”

More Recent News


01.31.25

February 1st marks the start of Black History Month. During this time, we have a chance to focus on the significant role Black populations have played in shaping the world and to celebrate their contributions to society that have often gone overlooked.

2725
01.28.25

Any change in administration brings new policy priorities. Recent actions by the federal Administration, Congressional leadership and the Supreme Court outline dramatic policy changes in the years ahead that could negatively affect the people we serve. The agency will be guided by the following principles, consistent with our approach over the past 40 years.

2717
A dark-skinned woman smiles at the camera. She's wearing a blue baseball cap and a yellow t-shirt with the Health Care for the Homeless logo.
01.21.25

Pass the Mic features the voices and stories of people with a lived experience of homelessness. In this edition, hear from Deborah - a US Army veteran, Bingo lover and lifelong volunteer. 

2711
Three people smile for a selfie
01.21.25

Follow a “Day in the life” of SOAR, one of our littlest known programs that makes a big impact for people experiencing homelessness with mental health disabilities. SOAR Coordinator Mina Davis-Harrison and Disability Outreach Assistant Specialists Dave Ramsey and Natasha Legette facilitate the national “SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery” program for all of Baltimore City.

2710

View All News

Copyright © 2025 Health Care for the Homeless.

All Rights Reserved.

OUR HEADQUARTERS

421 Fallsway, Baltimore, MD 21202

Phone: 410-837-5533

FOLLOW US

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Instagram