Sep 4, 2024
More states enact dental insurance legislation
Pennsylvania, Illinois pass virtual credit card, prior authorization bills
Sep 4, 2024
Pennsylvania, Illinois pass virtual credit card, prior authorization bills
Sep 3, 2024
Brett Kessler, D.D.S., to become 161st president of ADA
Aug 30, 2024
Effort aims to improve heart health screenings, referrals in dental offices
Aug 29, 2024
There’s still time to register for Oct. 17-19 meeting
Aug 29, 2024
New HHS rules modify protections for LGBTQ+, disabled patients
Aug 28, 2024
Stem cell cover illustration also earns recognition
Aug 27, 2024
ADA reaffirms support for community water fluoridation
Aug 27, 2024
The standard specifies requirements and test methods
Aug 26, 2024
Ban will likely not go into effect Sept. 4
Aug 21, 2024
Coalition says proposal would ‘undermine’ NIDCR’s mission
Aug 20, 2024
New report highlights barriers to obtaining dental care through Medicaid
Aug 20, 2024
ADA workshop to take place Dec. 6-7 in Chicago
Aug 20, 2024
Scheduled for Aug. 28
Aug 20, 2024
Federal rule could impact debt collection practices
Aug 20, 2024
University of Illinois Chicago College of Dentistry
Aug 20, 2024
Aug 12, 2024
Dr. Bor concluded that two important discoveries came out of this study.
Aug 12, 2024
Interested parties have until Sept. 25 to comment.
Aug 9, 2024
"ADA policy has not changed on this matter"
Aug 7, 2024
E-cigarette use could lead to caries, gingivitis
The dental insurance industry has not been accountable or transparent for decades, and it is a well-known issue that has persisted for far too long. Dentists continue to see firsthand the negative impact of inadequate coverage on patients who expect better value for their premium dollars.
Access to dental care is critical, not only for oral health, but also for overall physical, academic, and economic well-being. A 2021 study revealed that almost half of insured Americans forego dental visits or necessary procedures due to cost constraints. Neglected dental issues can rapidly escalate into severe pain, tooth loss, and gum disease, which is associated with serious conditions like diabetes, heart disease, strokes, kidney disease, Alzheimer's disease, adverse pregnancy outcomes, and even mental illness.
That is why at the forefront of ISDS's legislative agenda and strategic plan is the reform of dental insurance. Three key pieces of legislation are being proposed to revamp the existing system.
Dental Practice Act
ISDS is introducing two pieces of legislation that will amend the Illinois Dental Practice Act.
Recognizing the urgency of the situation, ISDS engaged in a collaborative effort with IDFPR to promptly address these pressing issues. However, this collaborative effort also shed light on more systemic problems within the licensing process, prompting ISDS to champion proactive legislation aimed at preventing similar situations from recurring in the future.
This legislation seeks to address these items:
Illinois Medicaid Program
In this year’s legislative agenda ISDS continues to address the issues within the Illinois Medicaid program. Over the last year, we have heard from dentists in the Medicaid program about several issues. This year we have focused on two primary issues.
Therefore, during the 2023 legislative session, ISDS introduced legislation to establish automatic qualifiers for determining eligibility for orthodontic services. ISDS collaborated with DHFS throughout the 2023 session to address this issue. By the end of the session, DHFS agreed to implement these standards through official rules. ISDS worked closely with DHFS over the summer to update both the scoring tool and the rules. These changes were initially planned to take effect by January 1, 2024. However, DHFS has now indicated that these changes will not be implemented.
Therefore, ISDS is seeking legislation to ensure these agreed upon changes are implemented by DHFS.
How to Stay Involved with Our Legislative Efforts
Your input matters. Legislators genuinely want to understand how these issues impact your practice. Your active involvement is crucial as we push forward. When the time is right during the session, we will send out action alerts to our members. We'll ask you to promptly respond to these alerts by reaching out to your legislators.
To ensure you stay in the loop about our efforts, please sign up for our text alerts. Simply text "toothparty" to 52886.
As always, we are committed to keeping our members informed throughout the session’s progress as we work to advance these issues. Together, ISDS can make a difference.