From ASDA

Join the Spring into Action Challenge for a Molar Bear pin

Throughout May, we’ll be texting out an advocacy challenge every Monday. If you complete all four challenges, you will receive a Molar Bear pin. There are also opportunities for prizes along the way. Join the challenge by signing up for ASDA Action texts, and then text us your favorite way to get involved with ASDA Advocacy before the next challenge drops on May 15. Good luck!

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ASDA sends letter supporting the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact

It is an exciting time for dental licensure and the profession: The Council of State Governments (CSG) is collaborating with various organizations to develop a new inter-state dental licensure compact. The Dentist and Dental Hygienist (DDH) compact will create reciprocity among participating states and reduce the barriers of licensure portability. ASDA is among a growing list of organizations supporting the compact. Read ASDA’s March 27 letter of support here. Check out the “From the States” section below for a full feature on the DDH compact.

Arizona ASDA provides oral health education to foster children

On April 22, members of the Arizona ASDA chapter engaged with foster children to educate them on the importance of oral health and hygiene. Through games and activities including coloring books, playdoh, puzzles and stickers, the children learned how to take care of their mouths. Each child also received a goodie bag with all the tools they need to practice good oral hygiene. Many of the children expressed becoming dentists one day!

Why does it matter? ASDA’s B-11 Oral Health Literacy policy encourages techniques that are appropriate based on patient level of oral health literacy.

From Washington

SMILED Act introduced to Congress

On April 11, ASDA along with 14 other dental organizations sent a letter to Representative Mike Simpson, DMD, thanking him for introducing H.R. 1422 the Strengthening Medicaid Incentives for Licensees Enrolled in Dental (SMILED) Act. This legislation would reduce administrative burdens for dentists who participate in Medicaid, thus ensuring a strong network of dentists participating in the Medicaid program.

Curious about Medicaid in dentistry?

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FDA requires new safety warning for opioid drug labels

As part of its ongoing efforts to address the opioid crisis, the Food and Drug Administration recently announced new required safety warnings to be added on labels for opioid drugs. The new labeling also requires a statement on the risk of overdose, clarity on prescribing practices, and appropriate dosage.

Why does it matter?

Despite growing awareness and declines in prescribing practices, prescription opioid-involved overdose deaths have remained steady over time. In 2021, there were over 16,700 deaths attributed to prescription opioid overdoses. Learn more about the opioid crisis, ASDA’s stance, and the dentist’s role in the epidemic here.

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From the States

The Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact is making waves

It’s an exciting time for dental licensure and the profession.

Since 2021, the Council of State Governments (CSG) has been collaborating with ASDA and other dental organizations to support the mobility of licensed dentists and hygienists through the development of a new inter-state licensure compact. The Dentist and Dental Hygienist (DDH) compact will create reciprocity among participating states and reduce the barriers of licensure portability.

Some benefits of the compact include, but are not limited to:

Facilitated multistate practice.
Enhanced license portability when changing state of residence.
Expanded employment opportunities into new markets.
Improved continuity of care when patients or providers relocate.
Expanded consumer access to highly qualified practitioners.
Supported relocating of military spouses.
Reduced burden of maintaining multiple licenses.

For a state to join the compact, the state legislature must pass the template language and then be signed into law by the governor. The compact will officially become active once seven states adopt the template legislation.

On April 27, Iowa became the fist state to enact the DDH compact with Governor Kim Reynolds signed HF 656 into law! Currently, there is legislation pending in six other states to join the compact. Both Washington and Tennessee’s legislatures have passed the legislation and are just awaiting the governor’s signature. You can see which states have legislation pending on this map.

The DDH compact does not establish a national license for dentistry. Rather, it provides a pathway for dentists and dental hygienists to practice in states where they do not hold a license. The dentist or hygienist must apply for privileges in each state they wish to practice in.

Licensure compacts serve as a means for creating licensure reciprocity among states that participate. To date, 49 states and territories have adopted at least one licensure compact, and licensure compacts are already in place for at least 15 other professions including nursing, physical therapy, emergency medical services, and more.

Why does it matter?

ASDA founded the Coalition for Modernizing Dental Licensure (CMDL) in 2018 with ADEA and the ADA. Of the CMDL’s two essential goals, increasing licensure portability to allow for professional mobility and improved access to care has always been a priority. The DDH compact is a huge step forward to achieve this goal.

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