Dr. Doring was appointed to an MSDA /Maryland Department of Environment (MDE) task force to review the inspection process and increasing the passing rate on inspections. “Settlement Offers” from violations have ranged from $250 to $8,000. Much of the discussion has focused on the former 20 day “grace period” and why it was dropped. Under intense questioning, MDE admitted that when they changed their policy in fall 2008, they failed to notify anyone in organized dentistry of the change that dropped the 20 days. Negotiations to reinstate the 20 day grace period for non life threatening violations broke down. This resulted in organized dentistry introduced SB 664 which forces the MDE to reinstate the 20 day grace period. Dr. Doring along with others testified on March 2 at the Senate Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee. Much to the displeasure of the Senators, MDE only provided written testimony. Our testimony was so strong, one Senator called the settlement offers “blackmail”. The bill war recommended by committee with amendments. One amendment moves the start date from 10/1/10 (traditional start date for new laws) to 7/1/10! Update! SB 644 has passed the Senate 47 to 0! Dr. Doring is working on an Action Alert to make sure this bill passes the house and we need ALL MD AGD members to contact their delegates.

This would require a dentist to ask each patient prior to any treatment using dental materials with mercury, if the patient has a known allergy to mercury. On Dentist Day March 10, Dr. Doring testified along with others the multiple problems with this bill. After our testimony, the maker of the bill (who was also the chair of the committee) agreed to change the wording of the bill to occasionally ask patients if they had any allergy to “metals”. It should be noted that the new ADA health history form includes this question due to the occasional nickel sensitivity. Due to this change in wording and the high probability this bill will lose momentum, I placed on hold the AGD Action Alert/capwiz but it’s ready to go if needed.

SB719/HB 1302 would improve access to care to individuals in nursing home type facilities by making it easier for dental hygienists to provide care to this underserved patient population. Organized dentistry testified in favor of this bill with amendments that would include current provisions of the Dental Practice Act. Specifically, we testified that the current regulations on general supervision of dental hygiene practice should apply to this bill as well. Testimony focused on the safe dental care of a highly medically compromised population and was well received. Exact wording of these amendments is being worked out with input from MD AGD.

Several bills in Annapolis deal with “Fee Schedules for Non Covered Procedures” and “Cram Down” are not fairing so well. Although “Non Covered” passed in Virginia, momentum has stalled here. Many legislators are afraid to pass any legislation that could possibly result in higher dental fees for constituents. MAGD will continue to work with MSDA to support these bills but sense there is not a ground swell of support. For example, the majority of the dentists at “Dentist Day” do not participate in any insurance plan and hence do not have to deal with this issue. Until those that are effected (and we are including the specialists here) stand up and tell legislators how insurance companies are using them and causing higher fees for everyone else, these bills will gain little traction in Annapolis.

Thanks to our MAGD student chapter, we learned recently that loan programs that allow dental students to graduate and work in underserved areas across the state may get the budget ax. We worked hard several years ago to institute these loan programs as a step in the right direction to improve access to care and are supported in the AGD White Paper. Dr. Halpern, President of AGD, signed a letter that went to Dean Stohler and leaders in Annapolis. An AGD Action Alert has been sent out to all our members. The Action Alert is a very easy way to send an e-mail or letter to your specific legislators with only a few clicks of the mouse. I encourage everyone to do that ASAP.

Dr. Doring has met with the SBDE Executive Director Mrs. Laurie Sheffield-James about the need for the state board to recognize the AGD transcript when members apply for license renewal. Actual copies of Dr. Doring’s transcript were given to her and she is very committed to having the transcript process move forward. The glitch is the current software the state board uses and she is meeting with that vendor to resolve the problem.