Bootsy and Patty Collins to address special City Council hearing | Health

CINCINNATI (FOX19) - On August 30, 2011, Kyle Willis, nephew of Hall-of-Fame funk musician Bootsy Collins and his wife Patty,  died as a result of a dental infection. The death was preventable. The Collins family, Cincinnati Board of Health Members and others were invited by Council Member Laure Quinlivan to share this tragic story and to discuss the importance of ensuring access to dental services in Cincinnati in these difficult economic times.  

The Special Hearing of the Quality of Life Committee, chaired by Council Member Laure Quinlivan, will be at Tuesday Nov 1, 10:30 a.m., at City Council Chambers, 801 Plum Street, 45202.  

Speakers will include Bootsy and Patty Collins, Dr. Wael Safi, Chair Cincinnati Board of Health, Dr. Larry Tepe, Cincinnati Dentist, and Dr. Noble Maseru, Cincinnati Health Commissioner. 

According to the Ohio Department of Health access to dental services is the leading unmet health need for children and low-income adults in Ohio. The City of Cincinnati’s five Primary Care Health Centers and Crest Smile Shoppe Dental Clinic see over 10,000 dental patients, perform 24,000 dental encounters and 7,000 emergency dental visits annually.  72% of these patients have no form of insurance. Annually 35,000 patients utilize City of Cincinnati Health Centers and 58% have no form of health insurance and are ineligible for Medicaid.  

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