Alan B. Moore, DDS

 

 

The ADA Annual Session was held in beautiful San Antonio in mid-October. We have much to be proud of as Texas dentists. Austin’s own Dr. Lynn White now serves as President of the Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Dr. John Findley of Plano was sworn in as President of the American Dental Association. Our delegation represented Texas well with numerous compliments about how friendly Texans are.

 

As a delegate, many items were on the agenda. The two main items of concern were the Community Dental Healthcare Coordinator program and the budget with its dues increase. I think the outcry relative to both was heard and dealt with in a fair manner by the House of Delegates.

 

The House of Delegates is composed of 455 ADA members from across the nation. Texas has 23 Delegates. California has over 60, just to give you an idea of the representation.

 

The CDHC controversy seemed to center around developing a dental care coordinator and minimal care giver, somewhere between a dentist and a dental hygienist. This program is an answer to the Dental Health Aide Therapist which is used in Alaska. There also was a $5 million price on this program, which confused many. The $5 million was the amount being pledged to help this program if needed. Other avenues of funding, such as foundations and education programs, may reduce the need for the funds from the ADA. No, I repeat, no new money for this is included in the 2009 budget of the ADA. The vote, which was heavily in favor of the resolution, was a vote of confidence more than anything. The ADA House of 2007 designated $2 million to get the program started. I foresee this program being used at the junior college level to develop these coordinators who will work under the supervision of a dentist. Someone has to develop the curriculum and make sure it can qualify ultimately for recognition by state boards to license the graduating individuals. This is one answer to the access to care problem and will help coordinate care for the Medicaid population. If we do nothing, others will dictate our future. The reports of the several pilot programs to the Board of Trustees and the House of Delegates will determine future continuation and funding, if needed, of the CDHC.

 

The proposed budget of the ADA needed a $14 dues increase to balance. I have been involved with a group of delegates who have been communicating by email our concerns with the budget. The conversations helped develop a constructive approach to lobby for no dues increase. A resolution was presented with a final budget dollar figure for the Board of Trustees to work for. The vote was taken and carried by one vote. One vote!! You do not see that very often. There was a challenge to how all this happened and whether all were able to vote, etc. The new vote was taken and won by 5 votes, so the budget was set. Ultimately, the budget that was sent back to the Board of Trustees returned with various cuts to make a balanced budget. This budget fit the target dollar figure set by the House with no dues increase. The financial storm the country is involved with as well as the natural disasters was good reasons to steer this compromise.

 

The priority programs the ADA is involved with, such as, dental education and licensure, involvement with governmental affairs, and being the voice of dentistry across the nation are still well supported. This year has been an exceptional year and I feel the House and the Board were respectful of the situation.

 

It is an honor to represent the dentists of the Southeast Division and the TDA. I look forward to any and all feedback.