Lobby Day 2023

ADA Dentist & Student Lobby Day | March 5-7, 2023 | Author: Vishnu Vaid (District 7 Advocacy ‘23-24)

Attendees: Chase Perkins (‘24), Vishnu Vaid (‘25), Alec Weiss (‘24), Harvi Patel (‘24), Courtney McGrew (‘23), Hayden Turnbow (‘26)

Over 1,000 dentists and students gathered on Capitol Hill to advocate for the dental profession. Dentistry is an evolving profession, thus it’s important for dental students, as the future guard of the field, to be engaged and informed on the issues that will be shaping the future. In a nutshell, attending events like Lobby Day empowers dental students and professionals to have a say in their future, address pressing issues, and safeguard their profession's well-being. It's an opportunity to make a real difference in the field of dentistry.

"Whether you’re a dentist, student or leader, we’re all members of the Tooth Party, working in unison and supporting a shared cause: to be champions of health and well-being, and to shape the discourse on oral health care in America. And while we’re here in D.C. to shine a light on national issues, I’d also like to commend those of you who are making a difference at home in your state legislatures. As they say, politics is local. A win for dentistry anywhere is a win for dentistry everywhere." - Dr. George Shepley (ADA President)

Day 1: ADA General Session - Welcome & Introduction of Advocacy Efforts

During a training session, ADA staff & volunteers helped break down the legislative issues attendees would be discussing during their Congressional visits, including a virtual skit put on by members of the New York State Dental Association called, “How To Meet With Your Member of Congress.”

• DOC (Dental & Optometric) Access Act. This bill would prohibit dental & vision plans from setting the fees network doctors may charge for services not covered by the insurers. Essentially, this would aim to create “Rules of the Road” for Provider Network Participation.

  Explain Like I’m a Dental Student

  • Currently, Dental & Vision plans dictate how much a Doctor may charge a patient for service - some services are not “covered” (paid) by said plan.

  • Imagine if Crown-coverage was not included in a plan

    • Patient gets a reduced fee (because the Dentist can only charge x%).

    • The Dentist could possibly end up actually paying for that lab fee in a non-sustainable fashion for the dental practice.

    • Dentist would have to adjust costs of other items/services - possibly introducing an Access-to-Care barrier.

• Resident Education Deferred Interest Act. Currently, loan interest accrual begins the October following graduation. This bill would allow dental & medical students to defer interest accrual on their federal loans while they are in their residency programs.

  Explain Like I’m a Dental Student

  • Upon graduation, your student loan interests begin to accrue - regardless if you are pursuing a residency or Post-Doctorate program.

  • Loans building up while pursuing residency training only prohibit access to stability & financial freedom.

    • This also introduces an Access-to-Care barrier with dentists settling in Urban areas versus the much needed & underserved Rural Areas.

  • Regardless of having student loans, banks are willing to work with you to write a loan. Banks exist to lend money and they view dental practices as quite safe investments due to the default rate being less than 1%.

• Medicaid Dental Benefit Act/SMILED (Strengthening Medicaid Incentives for Licensees Enrolled in Dental) Act.

  This legislation aims to improve upon Medicaid access to dental care. The goal is to ensure that adults on Medicaid in all states are guaranteed comprehensive & thorough dental benefits; essentially create a federal requirement for Medicaid that is not in competition with individual state budgets. In addition, administrative burdens for Medicaid dentists would be reduced and credentialing would be achievable within 90 days.

  Explain Like I’m a Dental Student

  • What is it like to not be able to treat your patient to completion or deliver effective disease-control?

  • Imagine treating/SRP-ing a patient one quadrant at a time, at one year intervals. Is this really going to be effective Periodontal Disease control?

Day 2: Conference & Workshop Sessions

As a joint ADA-ASDA Conference event, attendees also had the opportunity to hear from Political Analysts, Subject matter experts, and other dental advocates in their respective workshop sessions. In addition, dental students got to network with their home-state dental boards at the evening social.

Day 3: Capitol Hill - IU ASDA & Indiana Dental Association

In a joint & supported fashion, IUSD students and experienced professionals from the Indiana Dental Association spoke directly with state legislators & staff about the DOC Access Act, REDI Act, and the SMILED Act.

• Congressmen Andre D. Carson & Frank J. Mrvan

• Senators Mike R. Braun & Todd Young