Protecting Dentists and Patients

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 ensure legislators and regulators truly understand the issues, the potentials, and the cause and effect relationships of those items they consider. IDA continues to build and enhance relationships with legislators and regulators who are in a position to drive the state’s legislation and policy as it affects the delivery of quality oral healthcare.

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2021 Legislative Priorities

Hawki Dental Benefits
Priority: Maintain the existing Hawki dental program and benefits.

Children of some low- and moderate-income working families are eligible to receive dental benefits under Iowa’s Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), known as “Healthy and Well Kids-Iowa” (Hawki). Delta Dental of Iowa administers the Hawki dental benefit, which has proven to be a successful program in Iowa with high participation by dentists and Hawki members.
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Dental Wellness Plan & Medicaid Fee-for-Service
Priority: Increase DWP and FFS reimbursement to more closely align with Hawki rates, which will allow dentists to cover their costs and facilitate greater access throughout the state.

The Dental Wellness Plan (DWP) and Medicaid Fee-for-Service (FFS) programs provide dental coverage for Iowa adult and children Medicaid members, respectively. Unfortunately, the reimbursement rates are so low that dentists subsidize many procedures out-of-pocket, creating a hardship for all dental offices and an obstacle for patients seeking care.

Iowa Dentists Lead Country in Medicaid/CHIP Participation

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Do-It-Yourself Dentistry
Priority: Protect patients before they begin any orthodontia treatment.

In 2020, IDA supported a bill requiring either an in-person exam before beginning orthodontic treatment or proof of an in-person dental exam within the past two years. IDA recognizes that remote care has the potential to increase access to care, and IDA supports the appropriate use of teledentistry so long as patient protections exist.

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Access to Care
Priority: Ensure patient safety by requiring licensed dentists to supervise all other oral healthcare providers.

Access to basic dental services is directly related to overall health. Lack of adequate oral healthcare can lead to the development of chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease – which may result in expensive and avoidable emergency room visits. IDA strongly supports increasing access to care for vulnerable Iowans and is committed to collaborating with existing provider groups to achieve this goal. The best way to ensure patient safety and best outcomes is for licensed dentists – who undergo the most rigorous training in the field – to supervise all other oral healthcare providers. IDA also supports efforts to ensure dental offices in Iowa are fully staffed so they can provide quality dental care to Iowans.
Fluoridation Reporting Requirements
Priority: Require communities to inform their citizens before discontinuing water fluoridation.

Community water fluoridation is a safe, beneficial, cost-effective, and socially equitable public health measure that can prevent dental caries in children and adults.
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Increase State Funding for the Fulfilling Iowa’s Need for Dentists (FIND) Program
Priority: Increase state funding for FIND from $100,000 to $500,000 for SFY22.

Keeping Iowa-trained dentists in the state is vital to meeting the oral health needs of Iowans. The FIND program offers dental education loan repayment awards to dentists in exchange for agreeing to practice in a dental shortage area and dedicating 35 percent of patient visits to underserved populations. Since its inception in 2002, 52 private-practice dentists have been placed in rural areas of Iowa. Expanding the support of this state-matching fund program from $100,000 to $500,000 for SFY22 will allow for more dentists to participate and increase access to care for underserved Iowans, particularly in rural areas.
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