FROM ASDA

Chapter spotlight: Harvard

Students at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine hosted their annual Give Kids a Smile event earlier this year in conjunction with Children’s Dental Health Month. Nearly 50 patients received free dental screenings and oral hygiene instruction. Student organizer Stephanie Yang shared,

“This is not only a tradition that students, staff and faculty at Harvard love to be a part of, but it’s also an important day for us to make a difference and learn more about our local community.”

Why does it matter? ASDA’s H-1 Student Involvement to Address Barriers to Care policy encourages the participation of interested dental students in efforts to impact the oral health of the public through projects, education, internships, externships and outreach to underserved populations.

What are barriers to care? These include any sort of obstacle that limits or prevents people from receiving adequate health care, including dental care. Common barriers to care include financial hardship, geographic location, lack of insurance, poor oral health literacy, language, education, or cultural barriers.

Chapter spotlight: Midwestern-AZ

Earlier this year, Midwestern-AZ vice president Kenny Tran helped his ASDA chapter, dental school, and Arizona Dental Association organize their state lobby day. Here’s what Kenny had to say about the experience:

What inspired you to mobilize students to participate?

ASDA members only genuinely understand how important advocacy is when they attend a lobby day for the first time. We will achieve our goals. Just how long that takes will depend on the strength of our voice, so we need to get out and advocate for dentistry.

How did students participate?

Dental students and dentists visited the Arizona state capitol to garner support for recently introduced legislation that expands Arizona’s dental scope of practice to include cosmetic Botox and dermal filler injections. We met with legislators and discussed how our bill would benefit their constituents. Our job was to explain the benefits and make the lawmakers aware of the importance of our profession to the community. Shortly after our visit, the bill passed both chambers of Congress and was signed by the governor into law.

What are your takeaways?

We hope this joint effort between dental students and dentists will serve as a model for other states. This example shows that advocacy does work, and we have an essential role in shaping the future of dentistry.

FROM WASHINGTON

New tool helps guide borrowers through forgiveness process

The U.S. Department of Education has created a Public Service Loan Forgiveness Tool to help those with student loans determine if they are eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program or Temporary Expanded Public Service Loan Forgiveness (TEPSLF) program by working for a qualifying employer. Last year, they announced a change to the program rules because of COVID-19: through October 31, 2022, borrowers may receive credit for past periods of repayment that would otherwise not qualify. The tool also can help borrowers learn what actions they may need to take to become eligible for PSLF or TEPSLF and generate the necessary forms.

FDA proposes additional ban to curb cigarette use

The FDA is proposing a ban on menthol-flavored conventional cigarettes and all flavored cigars, except tobacco flavor. The proposal claims to have the potential to significantly decrease disease and death from tobacco by “reducing youth experimentation and addiction.”

Back in January 2020, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a policy prioritizing enforcement against certain unauthorized flavored e-cigarette products like fruit and mint flavors that appeal to a younger population. Under this policy, companies that did not stop the manufacturing, distribution and sale of these flavors would risk FDA action. This led to some companies using an unregulated, synthetic version of e-cigarettes, and thus promoting the FDA to take action again. 

Why does it matter? ASDA’s 2020 House of Delegates adopted the I-4 Tobacco, Vaping and Alternatives policy which discourages the use of tobacco, e-cigarettes, vaping products and alternatives.

FROM THE STATES

States across the country continue to address the epidemic of teenage vaping. Some states have seen successes while others will resume discussions with the next legislative session.

Alaska: Both chambers of the Alaska legislature passed SB45, which would increase the minimum age to buy and sell tobacco products from 19 to 21. The bill also imposes a state-wide tax on e-cigarettes or vaping products equivalent to 45% of the wholesale price. Since the Alaska legislative session ended on May 18, the governor has an extended timeframe to act on the bill, or it becomes law without it being signed.

Colorado: Colorado’s House of Representatives passed a bill that would ban flavored nicotine products, including vaping juices and menthol cigarettes. However, on May 10, the state Senate Appropriations Committee voted not to advance the legislation and postpone it indefinitely.

Hawaii: Seeking to reduce teenage access to tobacco products, both chambers of the Hawaii legislature passed a bill prohibiting flavored vaping products and the mislabeling of nicotine products as nicotine-free on May 4.

Kansas: A bill in Kansas proposed raising the legal age to buy or possess tobacco products from 18 to 21. The bill applied to conventional cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and vaping products, as well as ban them in school buildings. The bill passed the Kansas House on March 23 but died in the state Senate Committee on Federal and State Affairs on May 23.

Maine:  The Maine House of Representatives was considering a bill that would ban the sale of nicotine products that contain flavoring other than tobacco. It would affect menthol cigarettes, chewing tobacco, and e-cigarettes. The bill died when the Legislature adjourned, and the session closed on May 9.

New York Bill Would Change Residency Requirements

Both chambers of New York’s legislature have voted in favor of a bill that will remove the requirement for residency programs to be clinically based. In New York, applicants for dental licensure must first complete a residency. Currently, residencies must be clinically based. This bill would allow other types of residencies like oral medicine, orofacial pain, or dental public health to fulfill this requirement.

Why does it matter? Did you know in February, ASDA’s House of Delegates referred Resolution 404-2022 to the Board of Trustees to research the effectiveness of third-party assessment of PGY-1, determine its validity and reliability for initial licensure, and report back at the 2023 House of Delegates meeting?

Email advocacydept@ASDAnet.org to feature your chapter’s advocacy event, or with any questions.

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