Category: Advocacy, ODPAC & Legislation

At the end of the year I think it is important to recap what has taken place over the past 12 months and ensure that moving into the new year we are ready to take on our advocacy tasks with a clear plan. The main topics of interest over the past year have been the non-covered services legislation, the rule making process for teledentistry and ... [continue reading]

The November 2018 election is in the rearview mirror and many Ohioans are happy to see politics take a back seat for a while. The reality is, however, that legislators and policymakers will continue making decisions that impact your future as a dentist. Health care remains in the midst of transformative change and many issues important to Ohio ... [continue reading]

During the last hours of the 132nd General Assembly, Senate Bill 259 passed both houses. This legislation aims to increase access to care in Ohio. After passage in the General Assembly, Gov. John Kasich signed the bill into law Dec. 19, 2018. The elements of this bill will go into effect March 20. The paragraphs below aim to summarize the new law ... [continue reading]

Eric Richmond, the ODA's new director of legal and legislative services, with his wife, Katelyn, and their daughter, Layla. Hello "ODA Today" readers, my name is Eric Richmond and I am the new director of legal and legislative services for the ODA. I would like to take the time to introduce myself during this month’s legal brief. I promise ... [continue reading]

Policymakers routinely make decisions that impact dentists, dental patients and small businesses. The Ohio Dental Association, as part of its mission to support, protect and advance the interests of its member dentists, consistently monitors the issues before policymakers to ensure that dentistry’s interests are preserved. While the ... [continue reading]

The 132nd Ohio General Assembly is half way through its two-year term and has already considered several hundred bills. Many of these bills would have a direct impact on dentists, patients and small businesses. The Ohio Dental Association, as part of its mission to support, protect and advance the interests of its member dentists, consistently ... [continue reading]

The efforts of the Ohio Dental Political Action Committee (ODPAC) have improved the profession and made life better for dentists and their patients. The following is a glimpse at what dentistry in Ohio might resemble had ODPAC not been a consistent advocate for Ohio’s dentists over the last decade: State Budget The adult dental Medicaid ... [continue reading]

Last month’s Legal Briefs column focused on the membership benefits of organized dentistry’s advocacy efforts and reviewed several pieces of legislation the ODA’s professional lobbying team worked on throughout 2016 leading up to the final weeks of the 131st Ohio General Assembly’s two-year term. Legislators since ... [continue reading]

The advocacy efforts of organized dentistry provide a significant benefit to members. Throughout 2016, the 131st Ohio General Assembly has considered several hundred bills. Many of these bills would have a direct impact on dentists, patients and small businesses. The Ohio Dental Association, as part of its mission to support, protect and advance ... [continue reading]

This month, House Bill 463 will go into effect.  HB 463 was developed from a series of recommendations by the 2013 ODA House of Delegates aimed at improving access to quality, comprehensive dental care by focusing on delivery system enhancements and workforce development.  The bill was unanimously approved by the Ohio General Assembly ... [continue reading]