NJ A897

Establishes the MOM Project, a three-year pilot program in the Department of Health providing oral health education and dental care to pregnant, low-income women not eligible for Medicaid (household income below 300% of federal poverty level)

Requires maternal and child health consortia to provide outreach, registration, and a minimum of three hours of oral health education covering hygiene routines, nutrition, and the impact of tobacco, drugs, and alcohol on oral health

Mandates community oral health centers provide one year of dental treatment for enrolled mothers and their infants/children, including cleanings, comprehensive care, and establishment of a dental home

Appropriates $4,150,000 total, with consortia receiving $200,000 to $650,000 annually and centers reimbursed up to $5,000 per mother (scaling from 75 mothers in year one to 300 in year three)

Requires the department to contract with a third party for data analysis, convene an advisory panel to evaluate outcomes, and submit findings to design a potential model for inclusion in the Medicaid program