Advocacy is usually the number one reason most orthodontists are members of a professional dental organization. Advocacy can be accomplished through a number of portals- from making contact with state representatives, to supporting specific issues before the legislature. In Massachusetts, which has the most dentally related bills before the legislature of any of the New England states, the topics include…
- Dental Patients’ Bill of Rights
- Increasing Patient Choice through Assignment of Benefits
- Preventing Cost Shifting Within the Delivery of Dental Care
- Ensuring Dental Plan Transparency
- Midlevel Dental Professionals and a Comprehensive Approach to Improving Oral Health
- Reforming Dental Licensing Exams
- Anesthesia for Children
- Restoring MassHealth Adult Dental Benefits
- Tobacco Cessation and Prevention
- Healthy Alternatives to Sugary Drinks
- Pupil Dental Health
- Studying Oral Injuries in School Sports
While many of the bills are relatively straightforward, every now and then a “careful close” read of a bill may change the actual effect the bill may have on a dentist in their practice. For that reason, I advise dentists to carefully read the bill, and any interpretations of the bill before contacting their state senator and/or representative. If you are interested in helping with the dental society’s legislative agenda in Massachusetts, please do not hesitate to contact me at metdent@rcn.com. Also, I have asked other dentists in the New England States and New York to contact me with any bills before their state assemblies that they may need guidance to successfully advocate for the orthodontic profession.