ADVOCACY MONTH

Advocacy Month is here! The theme this year is Getting Back to our (Grass) Roots and focuses on getting back to advocacy basics. For example, what is grassroots advocacy? Why is it important?

If you didn’t hear, the Molar Bear is back and she’s ready for a tour of your city, clinic and favorite spots around town. Participate in our Molar Bear video competition for your chance to win! Find complete rules and eligibility here.

Get social with us and use these templates to share your favorite part about #ASDAadvocacy.

And don’t forget – submit your points in the Advocacy Certificate Program to get one step closer to earning the custom ASDA Advocacy certificate.

What are you planning for Advocacy Month?

Fill out the Google form to let us know what events your chapter is planning. A random submission will win a gift card.

Advocacy Brief Trivia

The first five correct responses will win a gift card: Which bill that ASDA supports on ASDA Action would require prescription opioids to contain a warning label specifying that opioids may cause dependence, addiction, and overdose?

FROM ASDA

ASDA reaffirms commitment to oral health literacy

On October 20, ASDA sent a letter with 15 other dental organizations to leaders of the House of Representatives Energy & Commerce Committee’s Health Subcommittee. They held a bipartisan legislative hearing, in which H.R. 4555, the Oral Health Literacy and Awareness Act, was discussed. You may remember from the August issue of Advocacy Brief that ASDA supported this bill when it was first introduced to Congress in July 2021.

Discussing the issues important to dental students

ASDA has taken a position on various issues and legislative priorities that affect you today as dental students, and tomorrow as practitioners. Click here to learn more and use these presentation templates at your next advocacy event.

FROM WASHINGTON

Debate Continues Over Spending Package

After weeks of debate, President Biden’s Build Back Better spending package continues to be deliberated in Congress. Originally a $3.5 trillion request, the newest proposal cuts the spending to $1.75 trillion to appeal to more moderate senators. The framework includes investments in children’s caregiving, climate change and tax cuts for many middle-class families. It also includes provisions that will provide Medicaid coverage to 4 million persons living in states that have not expanded Medicaid by providing premium tax credits to them.

Notably, the provisions for a vision and a dental benefit to Medicare Part B have been cut from this shrunken proposal. At this time, only the provision for hearing remains. It’s possible the benefit will be added back in a final agreement. The timeframe for completing this legislation is uncertain; it will likely take most of the remaining calendar year.

Why is this important? Since September, ASDA members sent nearly 900 letters to members of Congress opposing a Medicare Part B dental benefit. ASDA’s interim policy on eldercare supports a public program that includes the following:

Covers individuals under 300% of the Federal Poverty Level
Covers the range of services necessary to achieve and maintain oral health
Ensures proper reimbursement to dental health providers

Thanks in part to your efforts, ASDA’s advocacy priorities have come to life.

Open Enrollment is Now

The yearly period when people can enroll in a health insurance plan for the next calendar year is now open. The Biden administration is adding an extra 30 days to the annual open enrollment period for Affordable Care Act health care coverage. The fall enrollment period will run from Nov. 1 through Jan. 15, 2022.

FROM THE STATES

Student Loan Bill of Rights Becomes Law in Oregon

The average educational debt for dental students in 2020 was nearly $305,000, so it’s important that students understand the terms of their borrowing agreements. Earlier this year, Oregon became the 13th state to enact a Student Loan Bill of Rights – a set of laws that protects borrowers from being taken advantage of by student loan servicing companies. As recently as 2015, no state had laws primarily targeted at regulating student loan servicers. Since then, we’ve seen a growing movement for further regulation of student lending.

Contact advocacydept@ASDAnet.org with any questions.

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