AGD Washington Briefing

A Work Product of the Legislative & Governmental Affairs Council

February 25, 2010

IOM Stacks the Deck

In October 2009, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) called for nominations for members to serve on two new study committees that would focus on the current status and the future of oral health services in the United States. The Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) officially submitted the names of past presidents Vincent C. Mayher, DMD, MAGD, and Paula S. Jones, DDS, FAGD, to the IOM.

The IOM recently released the names of the provisional committee appointees; neither committee has a practicing dentist as a member. The only non-academic doctor is a pediatrician. The AGD has expressed disappointment with the selection of the provisional appointees and is gravely concerned that the proposed composition is an indication that the IOM has predetermined the outcome of these studies, particularly in regard to midlevel dental providers. ( Read the AGD’s comment to the IOM).

Impact on General Dentistry: On Feb. 19, 2010, the AGD sent a blast e-mailto its members, asking them to use the IOM’s Web site and submit feedback concerning these provisional appointees. Many AGD members took the time to do so and the IOM responded to the AGD with an invitation for the AGD to testify at the first meeting of both committees. AGD President David Halpern, DMD, MAGD, will be attending the March 4 and 31 meetings to represent the AGD and communicate both the need for private practice dentists to be represented on the committees and the danger that independent midlevel practitioners pose to the public. 

President Releases His Health Care Reform Proposals

On Feb. 22, 2010, President Obama revealed his proposal for comprehensive health care reform, which was the first time that he proposed specifics instead of broad parameters. The president’s proposals closely resemble the bills that narrowly passed the House and the Senate last year on party-line votes, although these proposals are more closely aligned with the Senate’s version. Prior to the release of this information, the White House indicated that the draft bill will establish new federal oversight of health insurance, prohibit exclusion for pre-existing illness and rescission (except in the case of fraud), establish relative limits for premiums, prohibit cost sharing for preventive and wellness programs, create new health insurance “exchanges” (i.e., virtual marketplaces) to facilitate the purchase of health insurance on the individual and small group markets, require individuals to have health insurance and businesses with at least 50 employees to provide health insurance to employees or pay a punitive fine, and make changes to health delivery and payment systems to pay for the health insurance expansions.

Advocacy Report

Leadership Changes at TSBDE

At the meeting, Dr. Bill Purifoy, a Forth Worth periodontist, was installed as the TSBDE's new presiding officer and Dr. Tamela Gough, a Dallas pediatric dentist, became the new board secretary. Dr. Purifoy, who previously served as a board secretary replaces Dr. Gary McDonald, an oral surgeon from Kingwood, whose term on the board has ended. A certificate of appreciation from Governor Perry to Dr. McDonald for his years of service on the Board was also presented.

Dr. McDonald recently sent a letter to TAGD President Dr. Ron Theiss, thanking him for TAGD's efforts on the agency's behalf at the Legislature. In part the letter stated, "The support your organization demonstrated for the TSBDE this past regular legislative session was deeply appreciated by the members of the state board, the staff, and on a personal level. With the new resources approaching, it is felt we can correct the difficulties that have restricted our performance in the past."

New Board Appointment

On August 30, Dr. James Chancellor, a general dentist from San Antonio, was appointed to a six-year term on the Board by Governor Rick Perry in place of Dr. McDonald. TAGD had previously contacted the governor in support of Dr. Chancellor's appointment.

On a related note, Mr. Charles Wetherbee was introduced as the interim head legal counsel for the TSBDE. Mr. Wetherbee is a former public member of the state board.

Other TSBDE Meeting Notes

During staff reports it was noted that the Board has records of 26,100 dental assistants in Texas, but 2,200 do not have current registrations. A last chance notice will be sent before these registrations expire at the end of September.

The enforcement division also noted that for the 2008-2009 fiscal year, which ended August 30, it was estimated that the agency would receive about 1,170 complaints. This is a significant increase over the last fiscal year in which less than 1,000 complaints were filed. Staff did not cite any particular reason for the increase.