On Thursday, September 8, the Des Moines District hosted legislators and open seat candidates from the Des Moines area for the 10th Annual Dinner for Central Iowa Legislators, Dentists, and Dental Specialists. West Des Moines pediatric dentist Dr. Rachael Revell presented “The Children of Medicaid” focusing on Medicaid patients and their diverse backgrounds and challenges. She stressed that most of her patients come from working families, some working multiple jobs, to provide for their children.
Legislators and candidates were receptive to the presentation, with some asking many follow up questions on the current state of the Medicaid program and its impact on patients. This opened the discussion and allowed dentists in attendance to share their experiences. Dr. Melani Fulton from West Des Moines discussed the challenges adults on Medicaid face when trying to find a dental home.
In total, the dinner hosted 14 dentists and their guests, five open seat candidates, and seven legislators, including:
- Senator Sarah Trone Garriott; West Des Moines, SD22
- Senator Herman Quirmbach; Ames, SD23
- Senator Brad Zaun; Urbandale, SD20
- Representative Ako Abdul-Samad; Des Moines, HD35
- Representative Eddie Andrews; Johnston, HD39
- Representative John Forbes, Urbandale, HD40
- Representative Brian Lohse, Bondurant, HD3
Meeting with legislators is a critical component of the advocacy work the IDA does. While the dinner was a great opportunity to speak with legislators, much of our advocacy work is done through dentists who serve as key contacts and meet with their local legislators. Below is a list of legislators in your district who need a key contact. Legislators with an asterisk are a high priority heading into the 2023 legislative session. Become a key contact for one of your state legislators today!