You can’t afford to be a silent partner in decisions that affect your business, your practice, or your profession. Legislative proposals directly impact dentistry in Iowa, and we need to have meaningful input. Membership in the Iowa Dental Association helps us work for legislation that helps you.
Working in the legislative arena is often like the practice of preventative dentistry. It requires regular work and attention to many small details. When done well, the majority of potential problems can be remedied or prevented before they have a chance to take root and grow.
Legislative efforts also rely strongly on educational efforts – working to assure that legislators and regulators truly understand the issues, the potentials, the cause and effect relationships of those items they consider.
The IDA continues to build and enhance relationships with legislators and regulators who are in position to drive the state’s legislation and policy as it affects the delivery of quality oral health care.
Recent accomplishments from the 2018 legislative session include:
- Maintaining Medicaid and Hawk-I program funding in a year when many other programs suffered cuts
- Ensuring that the sweeping opioid reform legislation was minimally invasive to practicing dentists, and insisting on a two year pause before the new mandatory electronic prescription system takes effect
- Ensuring dentists are properly educated via new continuing education requirements on the subject of opioid abuse
IDA is already working on legislative priorities for the 2019 legislative session based on your input. Should you have any questions about the 2018 session or policy ideas for future consideration, please contact the IDA office at info@iowadental.org.