Legislative Kick Off

1. Legislative Kick Off 2013-2014

2. Why am I here? • T-Shirt • Thai Food • ADPAC membership • Because you care

3. Outline ADPAC Legislative Issues Facing Dentistry What can you do?

4. ADPAC and Dental PoliticsYour Voice on National Issues in Washington

5. Your Profession, Your Future#JustFacts Decisions made at the state level and in Washington D.C. affect the future of dentistry - How and where we practice - How we are compensated - What materials we are allowed to use - What procedures we are allowed to perform

7. Whether you like it or not… THEGOVERNMENT IS IN THE DENTAL BUSINESS What you pay for your dental education Your state dental license Taxes (personal and business) Personnel Healthcare Reform

8. If Dentists Sit on the Sidelines Government can’t MAKE your business but it can BREAK your business. Examples: • Minnesota – Licensed Dental Therapist • Colorado – Independent practice for RDH • Alaska – Dental Health Aide Therapist • Maine – Dental Therapist

9. Protecting the Dental Profession Members cite political advocacy is the #1 benefit in organized dentistry - States employ lobbyists - Most state associations have a council or committee on Governmental Affairs - State Political Action Committees (CalDPAC) - ADPAC

10. Advocacy Begins with Relationships Relationships are built on a 3 legged stool: 1. Financial Support/Volunteerism 2. Visibility (“Face Time”) 3. Credibility/Trust

11. Advocacy Flow Chart Relationships Greater Access to Policy Makers The POSSIBILITY of Greater Influence

12. Principles of Preventive Dentistry(Political Style) DON’T wait until a crisis occurs to develop relationships with decision makers 2. Developing relationships takes time and $ There is no vaccine. Continuously nurture current relationships even if there is no apparent crisis on the horizon. We must establish new relationships with newly elected public officials

13. What has ADA Advocacy Done for me? Legislative Successes That Save You Time and Money

14. #JustFacts ADPAC disbursed $2.3 million hard dollars in the 2012 (January 2011- Election Day) election cycle. In the same time, ADPAC spent $400,000 soft dollars on independent expenditures. 90% of ADPAC supported House candidates won.  ADPAC participated in 333 of 435 House races- 299 of those candidates were elected. 77% of ADPAC supported Senate candidates won.  ADPAC participated in 26 of 33 Senate races- 20 of those candidates were elected. Congressman Paul Gosar (AZ-04) and Congressman Mike Simpson (ID-02) were re-elected to the 113th Congress.

15. Hard Money vs. Soft Money ‘HARD MONEY’:ADPAC donations that are only personal, individual funds. These dollars are used solely to fund federal candidates’ election campaigns. This is why ADPAC always urges dentists and dental students to give ‘hard’ dollars. ‘SOFT MONEY’:ADPAC donations that are from a corporate, not personal, account. Corporate (‘soft’) dollars cannot be used to fund federal elections as the FEC, over 30 years ago, banned the use of corporate funds to fund federal elections. ADPAC uses its ‘soft’ money to fund its grassroots efforts and other political education activities.

16. Savings Summary

17. Dentistry & Legislature Student Debt Affordable Health Care Act (Medical Device Tax) Midlevel Care Providers Licensure Water Fluoridation

18. Student Debt • $221,000 ADEA’s 2012 average dental student debt • $304,939 current UCLA dental student debt

19. ExCEL Act A better “Income Based Repayment” plan Interest would be capped at 50% of the loan’s balance Interest would NOT accrue during school Interest would NOT compound Better for Gov’t because less default

20. Higher Education ActH.R. 1911 Interest rates – tied to market Interest accrual – capped at 50% Refinancing – All loans, multiple times Tax treatment – deductibility of student loan interest Deferment period – extend to 1 year Bankruptcy

21. 2.3% Medical Device Tax

22. 2.3% Medical Device Tax • Tax placed on Dental products • Ex: amalgam, x-ray film holders, rubber dams, toothbrushes, floss, needles, lights, etc… • Purpose: Offset “Affordable Health Care Act” costs • However: Dentistry is only receiving children through new Affordable Health Care Act • These costs will only be transferred to the consumer • Less access to care

23. Midlevel Care Providers ASDA: “An individual who is not a dentist who can perform irreversible procedures on the public” To preform “simple” procedures, but how do you know when a procedure is “simple”?

24. Licensure • How you are aloud to start practicing as a Dentist • Three requirements: Educational, Written, Clinical • Our clinical live patient exam is WREB • Issues: Ethical care for WREB patients, proper method of demonstrating proficiency • Solution: • Portfolio Clinical Examination (CA), • Objective Structured Clinical Exam (Tx and Dx skills, MN), • Completion of 1 year post grad residency (required in NY, Accepted in WA, MN, CA, CT)

25. Water Fluoridation • CDC: “For 65 years, community water fluoridation has been a safe and healthy way to effectively prevent tooth decay. CDC has recognized water fluoridation as one of 10 great public health achievements of the 20th century.” • Still communities that oppose it • Portland

26. What YOU Can Do Take the time to learn about the political process in your state Learn about issues that are important to your future Join ASDA (American Student Dental Association) and ADPAC Attend political events in your area LOBBY DAY!

27. ASDA Engage • Go to Google • Search: ASDA Engage • Choose: • Repeal the 2.3% medical/dental device tax • Help pave a way to student debt reduction

28. Get Involved – Start Now!

29. Quinn Yost quinnyost1988@gmail.com AdrienHamediahsangsari@ucla.edu