ASDA Signs Onto Successful Coalition Letter

In January, ASDA joined 12 other healthcare organizations in a coalition letter asking the Environmental Protection Agency to appeal the Food & Water Watch v. EPA decision.  

The lawsuit was a result of the EPA denying a citizen petition to “prohibit the purposeful addition of fluoridation to chemicals to U.S. water supplies. These petitioners used a claim that fluoride diminishes neurocognitive health. The petitioners sued when the EPA denied their claim.  

On September 24, the court ruled in favor of the petitioners ordering that EPA “engage with a regulatory response.” 

The letter outlines the ramifications of the court’s decision on the EPA’s ability to impose regulations under the Toxic Substances Control Act and notes that the ruling “reflects a fundamental misunderstanding… on the safety of water and community water fluoridation.” 

On January 17, the Biden administration filed a notice of appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to reverse the order for strengthened regulations. ASDA will continue to monitor the status of this appeal in the Court. 

ASDA’s advocacy efforts and collaboration with other healthcare associations have proven to be a powerful tool for driving change and influencing key policy decisions affecting the future of dentistry. 

ASDA Supported Veteran Legislation Signed into Law

On January 2, President Biden signed the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act into law. The law seeks to improve the Department of Veterans Affairs' home care and caregiver programs, including the delivery of dental care. The Sen. Elizabeth Dole Act was approved unanimously by the Senate in December.  

In 2019, ASDA sent a letter supporting the VET CARE Act to its sponsor, Representative Bilirakis. The VET CARE Act, which created a pilot program to provide no-cost dental services to veterans, was passed as part of the Sen. Elizabeth Dole Act. 

Although VET CARE was first introduced in 2019, ASDA has remained steadfast in its advocacy efforts to support its passage to improve access to oral health care for veterans. 

Barriers to Care Resources

Patients face unique barriers to obtaining oral health care- from financial and geographic to a lack of insurance and poor oral health literacy. The Council on Advocacy has created helpful resources with more information about these Barriers to Care. 

These resources were created as a guide for ASDA members to understand and advocate for patient-centered policies and improved public oral health. 

Advocacy Certificate Program

Don't forget to submit your points in the Advocacy Certificate Program! Earning 8 points before Annual Session (Feb. 28) will guarantee your custom ASDA Advocacy Certificate. The member with the most points will also be awarded the Excellence in Advocacy Engagement Award. 

Learn about more ways to earn points and submit them here.