Legislative updates from the American Student Dental Association

August 2014


From ASDA

Council on Advocacy member spotlight     

 

Meet Districts 1-3 Legislative Coordinator James Wanamaker, Buffalo '16. ASDA's Council on Advocacy represents the interests of dental students on legislative and regulatory issues that impact the dental profession. 

 

How did you become involved in ASDA?

It was at 2013 National Dental Student Lobby Day that I caught ASDA fever and quickly got involved at our chapter. I was lucky that then District 2 Trustee Lauren Vitkus, Buffalo '14, saw my potential. She mentored me during my first year as the legislative liaison elect at Buffalo.

 

What sparked your interest in advocacy?

Growing up, my father gave me Wall Street Journal articles on important current events and political opinion pieces. The more I read, the more I developed a passion for advocacy. It was not until my first Lobby Day experience that I found an outlet for my interest. Our country is at a political crossroads for health care and it is our responsibility to ensure the stable future of dentistry.

 

What significant legislative accomplishment has happened in your region?

The most significant was the defeat of the Midlevel Provider S. 35 in Vermont this spring. Our success was a direct result of the efforts of students from District 1 who traveled to Vermont to testify to the Vermont State Senate. Their results demonstrate the importance of ASDA's Legislative Grass Roots Network and our ability to advocate for our profession and patients.

 

Read more about ASDA's efforts on this bill in the April 2014 Advocacy Brief.

From Washington   

Dental coverage rising for young adults, positive spillover of the ACA

ADA researchers found more young adults are getting dental coverage under the health care policies of their parents as a result of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). The act's positive effects on dental care for young adults stems from employer's voluntary expansion of dental coverage, which coincides with the expansion of medical coverage.  

 

Although the ACA allows parents to keep their children on their medical insurance up to age 26, there is no similar requirement for dental coverage. Health insurers were required to provide the extended coverage after September 2010.  

 

However, some employers have voluntarily extended dental coverage to cover workers' children, probably because it is a benefit that is highly valued by employees who see it as an important way to control dental costs.  

 

The results show that relative to the period prior to the ACA, private dental coverage among adults ages 19-25 increased 5.6 percentage points in 2011 and grew 6.9 percentage points in 2014, compared with adults ages 26-34. Also, dental care utilization among the younger group increased 2.8 percentage points in 2011 and grew 3.3 percentage points in 2012 compared with adults ages 26-34.  

 

 Dr. Bicuspid (July 23, 2014)  

House bill introduced to expand veterans' dental care 

U.S. Rep. Juan Vargas (D-CA) introduced Enhanced Dental Care for Veterans Act of 2014 (H.R. 5022). This bill would ensure veterans have access to enhanced dental care and authorize a pilot program to use community-based clinics for extensive dental work and provide dental education.  

 

Currently, dental care is only available to 100 percent disabled veterans, veterans who are former prisoners of war, those who have a service-connected compensable dental disability or condition, and those who have service-connected disabilities rated 100 percent disabling or are unemployable and paid at the 100 percent rate due to service-connected conditions.  

 

The measure would authorize restorative dental services for veterans, including fillings, implants, and root canal therapy. It would also enable the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) to conduct a pilot program to provide more extensive dental services through VA medical centers, community-based outpatient clinics, federally qualified health centers, and the Indian-Health Service, as well as contract care to veterans enrolled in the VA's health care system who are currently ineligible for VA dental care.  

 

Dr. Bicuspid (July 10, 2014)
From the States  

Oregon isn't implementing its midlevel provider law

In 2011 the Oregon Legislature adopted a bill authorizing pilot projects to explore the possibilities for training and using dental therapists. Last year the Legislature authorized $100,000 for a staffing position at the Oregon Health Authority to oversee dental pilot projects.

 

Nevertheless, no one in Oregon is currently pursuing a dental therapist pilot project, according to state officials. Officials at Oregon Health & Science University, the state's only dental school, say it won't get involved in training dental therapists.

 

Read more about the midlevel provider debate in Oregon on ASDAnet.org.  

 

Portland Tribute (July 17, 2014)  

Michigan program offers dental care for volunteer service     

The Care Free Dental Clinic in Lansing, Mich., created a Pay It Forward program designed to help those without dental insurance get access to dental care and encourage volunteer and community service.

 

The program connects patients with organizations based in Lansing and Mason, Mich., where they can donate hours of volunteer community service in return for dental care at a community dentist's office. Participants must be without coverage and under the 250 percent poverty line.

 

Prospective patients go through a five-step process. First, they contact the program for eligibility requirements, then complete the necessary paperwork, and volunteer in the community. Next, they take a brief class on oral health at Care Free Dental and then they receive treatment.

 

Dr. Bicuspid (July 22, 2014)  

Contact:
Stephanie Follett, senior coordinator. governance & advocacy
[email protected] | 312-440-2490
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