{"id":21077,"date":"2022-05-31T09:05:34","date_gmt":"2022-05-31T14:05:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aae.org\/specialty\/?p=21077"},"modified":"2022-05-31T15:43:32","modified_gmt":"2022-05-31T20:43:32","slug":"aae-members-and-stakeholders-visit-capitol-to-advocate-for-dentistry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aae.org\/specialty\/aae-members-and-stakeholders-visit-capitol-to-advocate-for-dentistry\/","title":{"rendered":"AAE Members and Stakeholders visit Capitol to Advocate for Dentistry"},"content":{"rendered":"

By: Catherine French, Assistant Executive Director for Advocacy and Professional Relations and Michael Dobrow, Integrated Communications Specialist<\/p>\n

On March 20-21, 2022, AAE members and Association stakeholders participated in the American Dental Association\u2019s (ADA) and the American Dental Student Association\u2019s (ADSA) <\/span>ADA Dentist and Student<\/span><\/i> Lobby Day<\/span><\/i> in Washington D.C. <\/span>The annual event provided dentists with opportunities to learn more <\/span>about issues and policies that affect the nation\u2019s oral health.\u00a0 It also provided opportunities to hear from political analysts, subject matter experts and other dental professionals. Most importantly, the event enabled endodontists to meet with members of Congress and other federal officials to ensure endodontic voices are heard on policy matters.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Welcome screen at the American Dental Association\u2019s (ADA) and the American Dental Student Association\u2019s (ADSA) ADA Dentist and Student Lobby Day in Washington D.C.<\/p><\/div>\n

This <\/span>year, the<\/span> AAE was represented by Drs. Maria C. Maranga, Mark <\/span>B. <\/span>De<\/span>s<\/span>rosiers, Rodney V. Scott, and Jason F. Foreman, along with endodontic resident Julia Y. Cheung, AAE Deputy Executive Director Trina <\/span>Andresen<\/span>-Coe <\/span>and AAE <\/span>Assistant Executive Director<\/span> for\u202fAdvocacy\u202fand\u202fProfessional\u202fRelations, Catherine French. <\/span>They u<\/span>tilized talking points, as well as personal stories to influence their Congressperson and\/or Senator\u2019s stance on oral health initiatives.\u202f<\/span>\u202f<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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AAE Chair Practice Affairs Committee, Dr Rodney Scott (top row) joined with several of his Maryland constituents to educate Congressmen Steny Hoyer and Kweisi Mfume’s offices on the need for better oral health care policies across the US.<\/p><\/div>\n

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AAE Chair of Public and Professional Relations Committee Dr. Mark Desrosiers met (via Zoom) with Connecticut Representative Joe Courtney\u2019s health care legislative assistant to encourage co-sponsorship of a bill to continue to protect students from interest rate hikes on their school loans as well as deferment on loan repayments until dental residency is complete.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Working to close the loophole in federal payers; exemption from setting fees for non-covered services, AAE Representative to ADPAC Dr. Jason Foreman and other Texas dentists and dental students met with Representative Kevin Brady\u2019s legislative assistant Kelsi Wilson.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Dr. Jason Foreman and Dr. Mark Desrosiers had the opportunity to chat with Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson, DMD, during a reception.<\/p><\/div>\n

Some of the issues that brought members to DC and are currently being worked on by the AAE are:<\/span><\/p>\n

Dental and Optometric Care (DOC) Access Act<\/span><\/b>
\n<\/span>While 41 states already have passed laws that limit interference from payers when the dentist delivers services not covered by insurers, some payers claim they are exempt from having to follow state law.\u202fThe DOC Access legislation (S1793\/ HR 3461) would prohibit dental, and vision plans from setting the fees network doctors may charge for services not covered by the insurers.\u202f\u202f<\/span><\/p>\n

Student Loan Refinancing & Resident Education Deferred Interest (REDI) Act<\/span><\/b>\u202f<\/span>
\n<\/span>While these bills will not solve the student debt crisis, they will help offset the unprecedented financial challenges that these essential health care providers face at graduation.
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>The\u202fStudent Loan Refinancing Act (HR 2160) would:\u202f<\/span><\/p>\n