I received a letter from the health department about dental services. What is it about?
The letter was sent to all active Fairfax County Health Department dental patients. Active patients means anyone receiving Health Department dental clinic since January 1, 2021.
The letter explains that the Health Department is transitioning its dental program on January 1, 2023, to two Community Health Centers that serve Fairfax County and northern Virginia: Neighborhood Health and HealthWorks of Northern Virginia.
All active Health Department dental patients will automatically be able to receive dental care from one of the Community Health Centers. You will receive the same type of services you received from the Health Department, and you may even have the same dentist.
Why is the Health Department transitioning the program to Neighborhood Health and HealthWorks?
The state of Virginia no longer requires local health departments to provide dental services. On the other hand, Neighborhood Health and HealthWorks, as Community Health Centers receiving certain federal funds, are required to provide dental services. They are also required to meet rigorous standards for quality assurance.
Neighborhood Health and HealthWorks are two Community Health Centers that have each been designated as “Federally Qualified Health Centers.” This designation means that they are eligible for certain federal funds, that they provide services regardless of patients’ ability to pay, and that they meet quality standards for care.
Neighborhood Health and HealthWorks have served Fairfax County and northern Virginia localities for many years. They are longstanding partners of Fairfax County Health Department. They provide comprehensive health care services regardless of income, insurance, or immigration status. They already operate robust dental programs and provide the same scope of dental services that the Health Department has provided. In addition, they also provide services to people of all ages who need medical, dental, and behavioral health care.
Transitioning the Health Department program to our Community Health Center partners makes operational sense and creates efficiencies for both the programs and patients.
Where can I (my child) go for dental care?
Active patients (anyone obtaining Health Department dental services since January 1, 2021) who went to either the Joseph Willard Health Center or the Mount Vernon District Office, will continue to receive care at the same location. Neighborhood Health will be taking over responsibility for dental services within those dental office suites.
Active patients who went to the Herndon Reston District Office will be changing locations to HealthWorks Herndon location. After January there will be a new dental suite at Herndon.
This table summarizes the transition by location:
|
Current Dental Clinic Location
Through Dec 31, 2022
|
New Provider and Location
Effective Jan 1, 2023
|
|
Joseph Willard Health Center, Dr. Yang
3750 Old Lee Highway,
Fairfax, VA 22030
Phone: 703-246-7303
|
Neighborhood Health, Dr. Yang
Same Location:
3750 Old Lee Highway
Fairfax, VA 22030
|
|
Mount Vernon District Office, Dr. Jaamac
8350 Richmond Highway, Suite 233
Alexandria VA 22309
Phone 703-704-6181
|
Neighborhood Health, Dr. Jaamac
Same Location:
8350 Richmond Highway, Suite 233
Alexandria, VA 22309
|
|
Herndon Reston District Office,
Dr. Chaubal
1850 Cameron Glen Drive, Suite 100
Reston, VA 22090
Phone: 703-467-7466
|
HealthWorks, Dr. Chaubal
New Location:
1141 Elden Street, 2nd floor
Herndon, VA 20170
|
Additional dental care providers in Fairfax County and the surrounding area include:
- Howard University School of Dentistry, 202-806-0007
- Northern Virginia Community College Restorative Clinic, 703-822-6607
- Northern Virginia Dental Clinic, 703-820-7170
- Washington Hospital Center, 202-877-6737
These offices provide services to active Health Department patients and others. Please call directly for information about the services they offer, eligibility requirements, and costs.
Am I required to switch to Neighborhood Health or HealthWorks?
You are not required to transfer your dental services to Neighborhood Health or HealthWorks.
The Health Department is transitioning its dental program to these Community Health Centers because they provide similar dental services that the Health Department has provided. Both Community Health Centers also provide comprehensive health care to people of all ages on a sliding fee scale, regardless of income, insurance, or immigration status. They each have had robust dental programs for many years. As “Federally Qualified Health Centers”, Neighborhood Health and HealthWorks are required to meet rigorous quality standards. Thus, the Health Department believes our patients will benefit from this transition.
However, you may seek dental care at a provider of your choice and transfer your dental records to that provider. See details in the answer to the next question about how to transfer to a different provider.
What will happen to my (or my child’s) dental records? Will I be charged to have my (my child’s) dental records transferred?
Dental records for active patients will be handled in one of two ways:
- Transferred to either Neighborhood Health or HealthWorks: this will be done automatically, as indicated in the table above. You do not need to do anything for the transfer to either Neighborhood Health or HealthWorks.
- Transferred to a different dental care provider of your choice: if you prefer to go to a different dental care provider, you must advise the Health Department. Call 703-246-7100 or your current Health Department dental clinic to request a records transfer. Health department staff will send you the “Authorization for Disclosure of Protected Health Information” form. The form is available in multiple languages. You will return the signed form to your current clinic address. Within 30 days of receiving your signed form, the Health Department will send a copy of your records to the dental provider of your choice.
There is no charge to transfer dental records to a Community Health Center or to a dental care provider of your choice.
I do not have insurance. Am I still eligible for a sliding fee scale? How much will I have to pay for dental services at Neighborhood Health or HealthWorks?
Both Neighborhood Health and HealthWorks provide services on sliding fee scales. Their fees are somewhat different than the Health Department’s fees. Their sliding fee scales are for persons with household incomes up to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level.
Neighborhood Health and HealthWorks are two separate Community Health Centers. They have different sliding fee schedules and payment requirements. Please check with them to find their current sliding fee for dental services based on your household income. They will not deny care due to inability to pay.
What about Medicaid or other dental insurance?
If you have Medicaid or other dental insurance, you will still qualify to receive dental services at the Community Health Center. Be sure to tell them if you have Medicaid/ insurance. Bring your current Medicaid/ insurance card to your appointment.
When I (my child) become a dental patient at the Community Health Center, will I (my child) be eligible for their other services, such as medical and behavioral health care?
Yes. Health Department dental patients who are transitioned to either Community Health Center become their patients and are eligible for all the services they offer.
You may, however, choose to obtain your medical and behavioral health care services elsewhere and still obtain dental services at the Community Health Center.
What if I, or my child, received dental services at the Health Department before January 1, 2021, and haven’t been back since. Can I still go to either Neighborhood Health or HealthWorks for dental care?
The transition of the Health Department program and the transfer of dental records involves only active patients, those who have received dental services at least once since January 1, 2021.
If you are not an active patient of a Health Department dental clinic you may need to become a patient of the Community Health Center for medical services to be eligible for dental services. You may not be an active patient if you received dental services before January 1, 2021, or you have never been to a Health Department dental clinic.
To make an appointment for services, contact:
Additional public dental care providers also include:
- Howard University School of Dentistry, 202-806-0007
- Northern Virginia Community College Restorative Clinic, 703-822-6607
- Northern Virginia Dental Clinic, 703-820-7170
- Washington Hospital Center, 202-877-6737
