to the bill, and dysfunction in the General Assembly, this bill did not pass.


Appropriations: • MAINTAINED – Dental Medicaid Reimbursement Rates: 80 percent of 50th percentile of UCR


• INCREASE – Dental Medicaid anesthe- sia and extraction rates: To match 2022 increase, a total of 2,465,091


• INCREASE – Elks Mobile Dental Services: 200,000 to 600,000


• INCREASE – Donated Dental Services: 180,000 from 90,000


MDA MONITORED LEGISLATION


Dental and Dental Hygienist Licensure Compact: We supported through collabora- tion with the Association of Dental Service Organizations (ADSO) the Dental and Dental Hygienist Licensure Compact. House Bill 2075 was filed by Representative Jeff Cole- man and Senate Bill 778 was filed by Senator Karla Eslinger. We worked with ADSO’s lobbyists to offer our support. Unfortunately, the bills fell victim to the Freedom Caucus and did not pass. We are prepared to offer our support in 2025 if it is filed.


Water Fluoridation Local Decision Making: Legislation that would require public water systems that intend to stop or start fluorida- tion of their water supply to first seek and receive information from their local health department about the impacts of fluoridation in their communities has been filed in recent sessions. House Bill 1621, unfortunately, did not make it across the finish line, but we look forward to offering support in 2025 if filed again.


Vaccine Administration by Dentists: The Missouri dental schools filed legislation that would allow for dentists to give certain vac- cines, either in a declared state of emergency or related to the oral cavity. The legislation also would require that dentists receive addi- tional training as determined by the Missouri Dental Board before being able to administer any vaccines. Senate Bill 1215 did not make it to the Governor’s desk. We will offer support if filed again in 2025.


LOOKING AHEAD TO 2025 SESSION


Each summer, the MDA Legislative and Regulatory Committee (LRC) convenes to discuss and propose the association’s legislative agenda for the upcoming Missouri legislative session. This summer, under the leadership of Dr. Michael Berry, the LRC will consider several legislative priorities for 2025, including the likely re-filing of our Dental Loss Ratio legislation. However, the most pressing issue we hear from our mem- bers continues to be workforce shortages, including the progress of an Oral Preventive Assistant EFDA. Stay tuned in the coming months for our 2025 MDA legislative agenda and save the date for our 2025 Dental Day at the Capitol on March 5!


Do you want to get involved in the interim and help us get our 2025 priorities across the finish line? Contributing to MODentPAC is absolutely crucial. Your support directly empowers the ability to advocate effectively for the dental profession, ensuring that your voices are heard loud and clear by policymak- ers.


To make it as convenient as possible for you, we offer various giving levels. You can even break down your donation into monthly payments, making it easy to invest in your profession. Every dollar you contribute helps us build vital relationships with policymakers and supports candidates who understand and champion the needs of dental professionals like you. As we navigate this critical election year, your contribution is more important than ever in ensuring that our collective voice remains strong and influential.


On behalf of Gamble & Schlemeier and the entire MDA lobby team, thank you for al- lowing us to represent the MDA in the halls of our state capitol for another successful legislative session. It’s a privilege to serve as your legislative liaison, and I look forward to continuing our work together over the interim and into 2025.


Grace Riley works with Gamble & Schlemeier, the MDA’s longtime contract lobby firm and serves as the MDA Legislative Liaison. Email her at grace@molobby.com or contact Halie Payne at halie@modentalmail.org.


ISSUE 2 | SUMMER 2024 | focus 13


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