{ legislative & regulatory }


Opening Doors Through Advocacy Tours


by GRACE RILEY H


osting a legislator for a tour of your dental practice is one of the most effective ways to advance your profession and


improve Missouri’s oral health. These visits do not need to be tied to one specific bill or issue. Instead, these give policymakers a firsthand look at how your practice oper- ates and the workforce challenges you face, while also showing them where policy can better support the dental profession. A tour provides the opportunity to show how the dental team functions under the leadership of the dentist, demonstrating the important role of each allied team member in delivering quality care and improving oral and overall health in Missouri. When you host a tour as a healthcare provider, you are not just advo- cating for yourself or your practice, you are advocating for the health of all Missourians.


WHY TOURS & GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY MATTER


Emails, social media posts and Dental Day at the Capitol are all important advocacy tools that show broad support across the state. But when you take the time to walk a legislator through your practice, it leaves an impres- sion that no talking point or email ever could. A tour allows them to meet your staff, see your patients and lets them see how you serve their constituents in their community. That kind of personal connection lasts, and who knows, it may even lead your legislator or their family to become new patients.


Grassroots advocacy is a vital tool for profes- sions across the nation, from healthcare to education to agriculture, because it builds meaningful connections with policymakers. Legislators do not have the time or expertise


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to fully understand the details of every sector, so they rely on professionals to explain how policy affects your work and share real examples from the com- munities they represent.


Hearing directly from constituents gives lawmakers a clearer sense of how decisions made in Jefferson City impact people back home. That perspective strengthens your profession and helps ensure better outcomes for the public. It positions you as a trusted resource. When issues arise or lawmakers need additional clarity, they know they can call on you for guidance and real-world perspective.


READY TO GET STARTED?


The MDA has created resources to help members prepare for effective legislative outreach. A valuable tool is the MDA Political Action Handbook, which provides practi- cal guidance on building relationships with policymakers, communicating effectively and advocating for the profession. In addition, MDA offers specific toolkits to help you visit with lawmakers on key topics, such as the Oral Preventive Assistant (OPA) and Dental Loss Ratio (DLR), ensuring you have clear, ready-to-use resources for those conversa- tions. To access the Handbook and other advocacy resources, visit modental.org/ advocacy. For additional assistance, you may also contact Halie Payne, MDA Director of Professional Affairs.


It is also important to remember Missouri’s strict ethics laws. The Missouri Constitution, Article III, Section 2, prohibits members of the General Assembly and their staff from accepting any gift of value from lobbyists or


lobbyist principals. Because the MDA is a lobbyist principal, we cannot provide meals, tickets, or items during legislator tours. Your time and expertise during a tour is the most valuable takeaway you can provide.


If you have a personal connection to a legislator, such as being neighbors, golfing at the same course, or having children at the same school, let the MDA team know. State legislators meet many people asking for their time, and even a small connection can help strengthen your outreach and make your invitation more effective.


WHY PAC SUPPORT MATTERS


Hosting tours and sharing your story is critical, but it is only part of the equation. Legislators also need to see that our profes- sion has the resources to support champions of oral health in the Capitol. That is where MODentPAC comes in.


A yearly contribution to the Political Action Committee (PAC) helps ensure we have a strong voice in elections and policy debates. Every dollar invested builds relationships


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