Positive Ethics: Active Pursuit of the High Ground - Louisiana Dental ...

LDA
feature
Annette Droddy
LDA Director of Communications and Public Affairs
No margarita, Tex-Mex cuisine, or River Walk
could keep our delegates away from the ADA’s
149th House of Delegates in San Antonio, Texas, this
past October. Delegates sifted through a number of
interesting resolutions impacting dentistry.
LDA Delegates and Alternate Delegates
Attend 149th ADA Annual Session
LDA delegates voting on a resolution.
Above: Drs. Steve Ortego and Bob Barsley waiting for the House
to begin. Right: Dr. Mark Chaney asking questions about the budget
during the 12th District Caucus.
Even though the ADA Board of Trustees asked
for a $14 dues increase, House members from across
the country agreed that dues should remain at their
current level, particularly with a presidential election
looming at that time and a questionable economy. The
great news is that the House maintained their position
and there is NO dues increase!
Another hot topic during the meeting was the issue
of the ADA’s financial support for the community
dental health coordinator (CDHC) pilot program.
The ADA Board of Trustees believes that as a member
of the dental health team, a CDHC would work in
communities where residents have no or limited access
to dental care. The theory is that the CDHC would
come from the same community
where he/she works, therefore
understanding the underserved in
that area. The pilot program would
train CDHC’s to provide preventive
services, such as screenings, fluoride
treatments, placement of sealants,
placement of temporary fillings and simple
teeth cleanings. In the end, the House approved
a resolution supporting this pilot program under
supervision of dentists and authorizes up to $5 million
in funding. The funding is expected to come from
outside sources and not the ADA.
And, a few other resolutions of interest, includes:
federal funding for general practice residencies
and advanced education in general dentistry
programs.
Center results via the ADA Web site at no
charge. Previously, these reports were available to
members, but at a fee.
18 LDA Journal