Transcript Presentation - American Student Dental Association

Advocacy From The
Ground Up
How To Be A Successful
Legislative Liaison
Ian Murray, Chair of the LGN
Ashley Ginsberg, District 6-7 Legislative Coordinator
Why Should Dental
Students Be Paying
Attention to Legislative
Issues?
Our Profession, Our Future
Decisions made at the state and federal
level affect the future of dentistry…
- How and where we practice
- How we are compensated
- What materials we are allowed to use
- What procedures we are allowed to
perform
Government is in the
Dental Business
-
The cost of your dental education
Your state dental license
Taxes (personal and business)
Personnel
Regulatory mandates
Healthcare Reform
Protecting Our Profession
Members cite political advocacy as the #1
benefit in organized dentistry
- State associations
- council/committee on Governmental Affairs
- lobbyists
- State Political Action Committees
- American Dental Political Action Committee
- ASDA’s Legislative Grassroots Network
What We Can Do
• Take the time to learn about the political
process in your state
• Learn about issues that are important to
your future
• Participate in ASDA
• Attend political events in your area
How Can ASDA Help?
ASDA’s Legislative Grassroots
Network
• What is the ASDA Legislative Grassroots
Network?
– Works to increase dental student understanding and
involvement in the legislative process, both locally
and nationally.
– Educate ASDA members, dental organizations
and legislators about issues important to dental
students.
– Provide students with the information they need on
matters concerning dentistry and other health issues.
Source: http://asdanet.org/legislativegrassrootsnetwork.aspx
ASDA’s Legislative Grassroots
Network
• How is the Legislative Grassroots Network
organized?
– Chair
– ADPAC Student Director
– Five legislative coordinators
– Board of trustees liaison
– Local legislative liaisons
Source: http://asdanet.org/legislativegrassrootsnetwork.aspx
How does the LGN work?
• Annual events
– National Dental Student Lobby Day in Washington,
D.C.
– State Lobby Days
• Advocacy Events
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ADPAC Drives
General body meetings
Letter writing campaigns
Starting and signing petitions
Advocacy is not always wearing a suit in the Capitol
Educating members is a huge part!
National Dental Student
Lobby Day
• National Student Lobby Day in Washington, D.C.
– April 16-17, 2012
– 326 students attended
– Two issues lobbied:
• H.R. 1666 Breaking Barriers to Oral Health Act of
2011
• H.R. 4170 Student Loan Forgiveness Act of 2012
What Are We Working On?
ASDA Current Issues
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Student Loans
Mid Level Providers
Dental Therapy Education Programs
Licensure
Boards and Specialization
New Dental Schools Opening
State Issues?
Additionally
– Comprehensive Dental Reform Act 2012
– HRSA not funded for alternative dental providers
Issues in Your Backyard
District Level Issues
• New dental schools opening
• Does Florida need a new dental school?
•Dentists providing vaccinations?
• Illinois dentists split on the issue
•Expanded Function Dental Assistants
• Support in New Hampshire
•Vermont
• Support for Mid-level provider programs with Kellogg
•Medicaid Adult dental benefits
• Schools dealing with loss of benefits
What Makes an Amazing
Legislative Liaison?
Stony Brook School of Dental
Medicine, 2012 Ideal LGN Recipient
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86% increase in ASDA membership from 2011 to 2012
Had 9 Lobby Day appointments
Provided scholarships to attend NLD
Voter Registration Drives
Meet and Greets with government officials
Involvement in state and local dental societies
PGY1 debates
Politics 101
Successful LGNs:
University of Florida
• Hand written follow ups from Lobby Day
• UF ASDA business cards distributed at lobbying
appointments.
• More than 18 lunch and learns, rather than one
ADPAC week.
Other Ideas from Top LGN
Chapters
• UConn: Legislative Panel
• Pacific: Lobby Day follow up phone calls
• OSU: Advocacy Academy
• Illinois: Attending State Society meetings
and student submitted resolutions.
Questions to ask
• What changes are you concerned about in
your state?
• What needs do you have that the LGN can
assist you with?
• What ideas are you looking to initiate at
your own chapters?
What can we do to help?
• Contact Ian or Ashley
[email protected]
[email protected]
The Legislative Grassroots
Network 2012-13
•
Chair, Ian Murray, WesternU, [email protected]
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ADPAC Student Director, Ross Isbell, Alabama, [email protected]
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District 1-3 Legislative Coordinator, Christina Shaw, Connecticut, [email protected]
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District 4-5 Legislative Coordinator, Phil Bell, Florida, [email protected]
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District 6-7 Legislative Coordinator, Ashley Ginsberg, Illinois, [email protected]
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District 8-9 Legislative Coordinator, Emily Tschetter, Nebraska, [email protected]
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District 10-11 Legislative Coordinator, Spencer Armuth, Las Vegas,
[email protected]