{ legislative & regulatory }


Wrapping Up and Looking Ahead


by HALIE PAYNE | PROFESSIONAL AFFAIRS DIRECTOR I


t is no surprise that 2024 was yet another successful year in the legislative realm for the MDA. Since the last Focus, we’ve been working


toward gearing up for 2025. As dedicated members, you know the association and profession are not strong without a strong political action committee. MODentPAC gave more than $68,000 to candidates — and was successful: Only one of those candidates lost in the general election. A big thank you to every MODentPAC donor from the past year. You can donate to invest in your profession at any time by visit- ing modental.org/pac.


In early December, the MDA advocacy team attended the annual ADA Lobbyist Confer- ence in a chilly Hilton Head, South Carolina. This is always my favorite conference to at- tend because the ADA and every state gather to focus on advocacy goals, discussions and how to keep dentistry moving forward. I always take away a few nuggets from the conference. This year those were new ideas for PAC fundraising and campaigns for our upcoming legislative agenda items, as well as strategies to deal with ERISA.


With that being said, the Board of Trustees approved the 2025 legislative agenda, and the MDA has pre-filed legislation already to establish a Dental Loss Ratio (DLR) in Mis- souri. We filed this bill last year, but due to a gridlock in the Missouri Senate and political factors out of our control, it didn’t see much movement. We are hopeful this year with work having been done in the interim, this legislation will receive more movement in both chambers. Our bill establishes a DLR at 85 percent for both large and small group plans. Outside of filing legislation, work is


14 focus | WINTER 2024 | ISSUE 4


ADA House Meeting CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE


Amendments to policies relating to a dentist’s choice of practice models to support and advocate for all practices mo- dalities chosen along a dentist’s journey (Resolution 315), and Medical/Dental Loss Ratio clarification on definitions and terms (Resolution 306) serve MDA in its legislative efforts to establish a MLR/DLR in Missouri and to continue to collaborate with organizations such as the American Dental Service Organization on establish- ment of a DDH Compact.


still being done to maintain Dental Medicaid reimbursement rates, as well as fix issues within the system to make it more efficient for providers to enroll and provide these ser- vices. Along with Medicaid appropriations, we will be advocating for increased funding for Elks Mobile Dental Services. We’ll also continue to strategize on the future of the Oral Preventive Assistant EFDA. The clinical testing of that pilot project commenced in December with sites reporting on outcomes for the next several months that will inform future progress.


Rounding out this advocacy update for 2024, please be sure to register for 2025 MDA Den- tal Day at the Capitol on March 5, 2025! Last year we had more than 80 dentists, dental team members, dental students and spouses attend, which helped to directly impact our successes last session! It is important to advocate for your profession and keep mov- ing dentistry forward in Missouri. You can register until February 11 by visiting modental.org/advocacy.


Contact Halie at halie@modentalmail. org or call the MDA office at 573-634- 3436.


Resolution 318 regarding rural dentistry calls for strategies and solutions for en- couraging dentists to practice in rural areas. ADA’s appropriate agencies will work alongside dental school deans, ASDA and others to address the need. MDA’s 2024 Adhoc created on Rural Dentistry will likely glean support and information from this report and its subsequent ac- tions. In addition to this, Resolution 323 called on the ADA to catalog resources regarding workforce, develop digital mul- timedia videos on dental careers (helping to recruit and retain staff), and make all items available to state and local societies. Again, there was a reoccurring theme and clear message from the ADA House mem- bers that anything related to addressing workforce shortages needed immediate action whether that be research, funding or policy change.


ADA’s Comprehensive Statement on Oral Health Services During Pregnancy (Reso- lution 317) was debated heavily and very controversial on specific language changes. The policy is about encouraging women to have oral health care and regu- lar dental examinations during pregnancy. The concern was related to referring to women as “females” or “pregnant persons.” The policy adopted rescinded existing policies, and following heavy debate, the language adopted by a small mar- gin, reflected what was submitted to the House, referring to pregnant persons and persons of childbearing age. Subsequent to the adoption, there has been concern ex- pressed to the ADA Board from members of the MDA delegation. 


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