Washington Leadership Conference opens with emphasis on access issues

Washington鈥擳he public pays close attention to how the profession reacts to the “daunting challenge” of access problems, ADA leaders said in opening the May 12-14 Washington Leadership Conference.

“The public, the media and policymakers at the state and federal levels understand now more than ever that dental disease is a serious illness that can have devastating consequences,” ADA President Mark J. Feldman said in opening the 2008 WLC. “It is plain in the dramatic uptick in the number of legislative proposals at both the state and federal levels aimed at improving access to care. The dramatic increase in awareness of dental access issues also is plain in the increased media coverage.”

Some 600 dentists, tripartite dental staff and guests registered for the annual springtime opportunity to take dentistry’s message to Capitol Hill. And while the issues are manifold, none are more pressing than access to dental care, Dr. Feldman told the dental leaders, many of them attending their first WLC as indicated by a show of hands and some back for their 10th or more.

“We must be out front on access issues, working aggressively with other partners to find solutions,” Dr. Feldman said. “If we speak, if we lead, if we act, America will listen. America will listen because organized dentistry isn’t just another interest group lobbying for our piece of the pie.”

“Your leadership is here with you today to underscore our total commitment, the ADA’s total commitment, to advocating for dentistry and for the nation’s oral health,” said Dr. John S. Findley, ADA president-elect. “This meeting has become an invaluable component of our advocacy at the federal level.”

Dr. Charles L. Smith, 6th District Trustee, updated the dental leaders on the ADA task force he chairs on the future of health care/universal coverage as authorized by the 2007 House of Delegates. “The task force has attempted to define the role of ADA and dentistry in the development of future universal health care programs and develop goals and strategies to guide the ADA’s advocacy efforts,” he said.

The task force will report to the 2008 House of Delegates with recommendations regarding potential changes to existing ADA policy, the need for new ADA policy and the need to delete obsolete ADA policy.

George Will, an opening day speaker described as “America’s foremost political columnist,” regaled the dental audience with a “things are getting better” message and fielded more than a few questions about baseball and his beloved Chicago Cubs and their World Series hopes in relation to politics and taxes. Well, you had to be there, but the audience applauded his fielding. Mr. Will later signed copies of his book, Men at Work: The Craft of Baseball.