NATIONAL LOBBY DAY
ASDA's National Lobby Day brings delegates from across the country to Washington, D.C. This is an opportunity for students to talk to legislators, and push for changes in legislation centered around dentistry. It's one of the many ways ASDA thrives in organized dentistry and advocacy!
Attendants met with representatives in the capitol, advocating for four initiatives related to the following:
S.2891, the Action for Dental Health Act of 2023
(Sen. Cory Booker, D-NJ, and Sen. Ted Budd, R-NC)
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Extend funding for ADH through the fiscal year 2026
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Support workforce training and oral health programs to deliver care to people suffering from dental disease where better access to care is most needed.
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Strengthen and expand public/private safety net and bring in dental health education and disease
prevention in underserved communities
H.R 1202/ S. 704, the Resident Education Deferred Interest Act (REDI Act) (Rep. Brian Babin, R-TX, and Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-NV)
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Allows medical and dental residents to automatically defer payments on their federal student loans until after medical or dental residency is completed
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Suspends the accrual of interest on federal student loans during the residency period
S.2172, the Dental Loan Repayment Assistance Act of 2023
(Sen. Ben Cardin, D-MD)
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Allows full-time faculty members participating in the Dental Faculty Loan Repayment Program to exclude federal loan repayment assistance from their taxable income
S.1424/ H.R. 1385 Dental and Optometric (DOC) Access Act
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Legislation prohibits dental and vision plans from setting the fees network doctors may charge for services not covered by the insurers
ASDA's 2024 Dental and Student Lobby Day was from April 6-9th in Washington DC!
What was the coolest thing you experienced at National Lobby Day?
Olivia: The coolest thing was experiencing firsthand the process of activism and conversing with state representatives in the nation’s capital. I have been intimidated by the political side of things in the past. However, working with fellow dental students and dentists from across the country for a common cause was such a fun and empowering experience that I hope to become more politically involved.
Joey: The coolest thing for me at National Lobby Day was getting the chance to meet other dentists and dental students from around the state of Michigan and the entire country, all while representing U of M Dental.”
What was the most meaningful conversation you had?
Joey: The most meaningful conversation I had involved discussing potential future legislature that could allow better refinancing of student loans, as well as prevent interest accruement until after graduation
Olivia: The most meaningful conversation I had was discussing the expansion of insurance to cover more oral surgeries in medically complex patients. Private insurance companies currently deem surgeries in cases such as cleft lip/cleft palate patients to be purely esthetic. However, these patients often need multiple surgeries to restore basic oral functions and deserve to have these procedures covered.
Do you recommend this event to anyone else for the future?
Olivia: Absolutely! I plan on attending again next year!
Joey: I would recommend this events and others like it to any and all dental students, D1 through D4. As a first time attendee of National Lobby Day, I had the opportunity to gain some knowledge of the issues facing our profession and have a voice. The event is full of dentists and dental students interested in the well-being of dentistry and its future, and that great sense of the pride and unity was neat to be apart of.