Members of the American Dental Education Association met with nearly 100 congressional offices to promote oral healthcare awareness and research funding. The event marked AADR-ADEA Advocacy Day. The ADEA works as a coalition to address modern issues in dentistry. The organization provides mainstream media to colleges, universities, and other institutions that can affect the dental industry and profession.
Also this month, the ADA-backed oral health initiative bill was introduced by Sen. Cardin (D-Md.); it is co-sponsored by Sen. Collins (R-Maine). The bill is intended to improve oral healthcare access through assessment and revisions to allocation of the Department of Health and Human Services resources. An advisory panel will be comprised of dentists, oral health specialists, and Medicaid dental and program directors. By bringing together leaders in these varied oral health and public health roles, the ADA hopes to see improvements in oral healthcare access for underserved Americans.
Read about Advocacy Day: http://webclipper.handsnet.org/2008/05/american-dental-4.php
Read about the ADA and the Oral Health Initiative: http://www.ada.org/prof/resources/pubs/adanews/index.asp