FOCUS | ISSUE 6 | 2010

MDA House of Delegates resolution recap

The following is a summary of the official actions on resolutions from the 2010 MDA House of Delegates held November 5-6. Read complete text at www.modental.org/house.

2010H-6: (Adopted) States that 2011 MDA dues be $428 for Active Members; 0% of full dues for Active Members for the first full year after graduation; 25% of full dues for Active Members for the second full year after gradu- ation; 50% of full dues for Active Members for the third full year after graduation; 75% of full dues for Active Members for the fourth full year after graduation; 50% of full dues for Active Life Members; $50 for Retired Members; $10 for Student Members; $40 for Associate Members; and $100 for Affiliate Members. Note: There are no MDA assessments in 2011 and MDA is offering up to an 8-month install- ment payment plan option. Learn more at www.modental.org.dues.

2010H-5: (Adopted) Elects members to serve as Action Team Leaders for the 2011 ADA Washington Leadership Conference (pending official general election results). See list of members online.

2010H-7: (Adopted) Amends MDA Bylaws to address Calculating Percentage Dues or Special Assessments, in that computations resulting in fractions of a dollar shall be rounded up to the next whole dollar. See full bylaws wording change online.

2010H-8: (Adopted) This resolution rescinds 2009H-22, specifically directed at the language that directed MDA to, “aggressively pursue state legislation with a target of 2011 to al- low Oral Preventive Assistants (similar to ADA parameters)”. Further this resolution directs MDA to formulate and pursue additional solu- tions to the access to care problem; continue to develop, seek support for and pursue state legislation to allow Oral Preventive Assistants (similar to ADA parameters); pursue a pilot program similar to ADA curriculum for the education of an Oral Preventive Assistant (OPA) and recommend the placement of the pilot be in association with a school located in a shortage area in Northern Missouri; and, that the MDA Board of Trustees and Legislative and Regulatory Committee (LRC) report to the 2011 House of Delegates on actions taken.

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2010H-9: (Adopted) Amends MDA Bylaws to correctly and more specifically address the apportionment of delegates to the American Dental Association. See full bylaws wording change online.

2010H-10: (Adopted) Amends MDA Bylaws to correctly and more specifically address the apportionment of component delegates to the Missouri Dental Association. See full bylaws wording change online.

2010H-11: (Adopted) Forms an ad hoc com- mittee with representation from each com- ponent to explore ways to create a bipartite associate membership in the MDA and its local components for all non-dentist dental staff members, with recommendations presented to the MDA Board of Trustees by their August 2011 meeting.

2010-12: (Referred) Directs the MDA and its PAC to solicit and compile a list of names of those that contribute directly to a specific candidate for state or federal level office in the state of Missouri, publish the list and acknowl- edge members at MDA events.

2010-13: (Referred) Directs the MDA and its PAC to solicit and compile a list of names of those members that have an ongoing relation- ship with a member of the Legislature of the State of Missouri and who wish to work in a legislative liaison capacity and asks that the MDA political action committee shall make all reasonable efforts to obtain a relationship dentist for every member of the Legislature with this group of member dentists known as the “MDA Grass Roots Network.”

2010H-14: (Adopted) Asks MDA to assess the current and future dental assisting man power needs of member dentists and that identified shortage areas be assessed for potential sites for dental assisting educational programs. No more than $5,000 will be expensed to fulfill this resolution and findings will be presented to the 2011 House of Delegates.

2010H-15: (Adopted) Asks that MDA investi- gate the problems associated with scheduling dental visits for school aged children during regular school hours and work with appropriate organizations (Missouri School Board Associa- tion, etc.) to address the identified problems.

2010H-16: (Adopted) Provides up to $2,000 from MDA to the Greater Kansas City Den-

tal Society for the UMKC Student Outreach Program in order to continue to improve the recruitment of new dentists.

2010H-17: (Adopted) Directs the MDA Fluo- ride Ad Hoc Committee to research current water fluoridation policies and procedures and provide a report to the 2011 House of Del- egates.

2010H-18: (Adopted) States that all resolution background information that is to be presented at the MDA House of Delegates in the form of electronic media, including but not limited to PowerPoint presentations, must be made avail- able by email and on the MDA members only website by the time the House of Delegates Notebooks are delivered, or at least two weeks prior to the House.

2010H-19: (Adopted) Asks that members have access to detailed financial reports and their implications on any resolution passed by the previous year’s House of Delegates upon request.

2010H-20: (Adopted) Asks that MDA inform its members of the option to participate in the Show-Me Response program via the regular publications and email notifications of the MDA. It also asks MDA to request the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services to make available, at no charge, First Responder training to MDA members who register to participate as a volunteer and for MDA to recommend that UMKC School of Dentistry incorporates First Response Training into their curriculum.

2010H-21: (Adopted) Asks the MDA, on behalf of its members, to work in conjunction with the ADA to amend the ADA Principle of Ethics and Code of Professional Conduct and advisory opinions as necessary to allow health care providers the right to extend financial benefits directly to their patients without prejudgment of their ethics or prejudice to their license. Healthcare providers may use their discretion in extending financial benefits to third party payment programs. The suggested amend- ments to the ADA Principle of Ethics and Code of Professional Conduct may be recorded as follows: Healthcare providers may offer free care, discounts, credits, or reduction of charges exclusively to their patients as an important financial aspect of the doctor/patient relation- ship.