advocacy from the ground up

Advocacy From The Ground UpHow To Be A Successful Legislative Liaison

Ian Murray, Chair of the LGNAshley Ginsberg, District 6-7 Legislative Coordinator

Why Should Dental Students Be Paying Attention to Legislative Issues?

Our Profession, Our FutureDecisions made at the state and federal level affect the future of dentistry… - How and where we practice - How we are compensated - What materials we are allowed to use - What procedures we are allowed to perform

Government is in the Dental Business

- The cost of your dental education

- Your state dental license - Taxes (personal and business) - Personnel - Regulatory mandates - Healthcare Reform

Protecting Our Profession Members cite political advocacy as the #1 benefit in organized dentistry - State associations - council/committee on Governmental Affairs - lobbyists - State Political Action Committees - American Dental Political Action Committee - ASDA’s Legislative Grassroots Network

What We Can Do

• Take the time to learn about the political process in your state

• Learn about issues that are important to your future

• Participate in ASDA• Attend political events in your area

How Can ASDA Help?

ASDA’s Legislative Grassroots Network

• What is the ASDA Legislative Grassroots Network?– Works to increase dental student

understanding and involvement in the legislative process, both locally and nationally. 

– Educate ASDA members, dental organizations and legislators about issues important to dental students.

– Provide students with the information they need on matters concerning dentistry and other health issues. 

Source: http://asdanet.org/legislativegrassrootsnetwork.aspx

ASDA’s Legislative Grassroots Network

• How is the Legislative Grassroots Network organized?– Chair– ADPAC Student Director– Five legislative coordinators– Board of trustees liaison– Local legislative liaisons

Source: http://asdanet.org/legislativegrassrootsnetwork.aspx

How does the LGN work?• Annual events

– National Dental Student Lobby Day in Washington, D.C.

– State Lobby Days• Advocacy Events– ADPAC Drives– General body meetings– Letter writing campaigns– Starting and signing petitions – Advocacy is not always wearing a suit in the

Capitol – Educating members is a huge part!

National Dental Student Lobby Day

• National Student Lobby Day in Washington, D.C.– April 16-17, 2012– 326 students attended– Two issues lobbied:• H.R. 1666 Breaking Barriers to Oral Health

Act of 2011• H.R. 4170 Student Loan Forgiveness Act of

2012

What Are We Working On?

ASDA Current Issues• Student Loans• Mid Level Providers• Dental Therapy Education Programs• Licensure• Boards and Specialization• New Dental Schools Opening• State Issues?• Additionally

– Comprehensive Dental Reform Act 2012– HRSA not funded for alternative dental providers

Issues in Your Backyard

District Level Issues• New dental schools opening• Does Florida need a new dental school?

•Dentists providing vaccinations?• Illinois dentists split on the issue

•Expanded Function Dental Assistants• Support in New Hampshire

•Vermont • Support for Mid-level provider programs with Kellogg

•Medicaid Adult dental benefits• Schools dealing with loss of benefits

What Makes an Amazing Legislative Liaison?

Stony Brook School of Dental Medicine, 2012 Ideal LGN Recipient• 86% increase in ASDA membership from 2011 to

2012• Had 9 Lobby Day appointments• Provided scholarships to attend NLD• Voter Registration Drives• Meet and Greets with government officials• Involvement in state and local dental societies• PGY1 debates• Politics 101

Successful LGNs: University of Florida• Hand written follow ups from Lobby Day• UF ASDA business cards distributed at

lobbying appointments.• More than 18 lunch and learns, rather than

one ADPAC week.

Other Ideas from Top LGN Chapters• UConn: Legislative Panel• Pacific: Lobby Day follow up phone calls•OSU: Advocacy Academy• Illinois: Attending State Society meetings and student submitted resolutions.

Questions to ask

•What changes are you concerned about in your state?•What needs do you have that the LGN can assist you with?•What ideas are you looking to initiate at your own chapters?

What can we do to help?• Contact Ian or Ashley

Ianmurraydmd@gmail.comashley.ginsberg@gmail.com

The Legislative Grassroots Network 2012-13• Chair, Ian Murray, WesternU, ianmurraydmd@gmail.com

• ADPAC Student Director, Ross Isbell, Alabama, isbellg@uab.edu

• District 1-3 Legislative Coordinator, Christina Shaw, Connecticut,

cshaw@student.uchc.edu

• District 4-5 Legislative Coordinator, Phil Bell, Florida, pbell@dental.ufl.edu

• District 6-7 Legislative Coordinator, Ashley Ginsberg, Illinois,

ashley.ginsberg@gmail.com

• District 8-9 Legislative Coordinator, Emily Tschetter, Nebraska,

emily.tschetter@unmc.edu

• District 10-11 Legislative Coordinator, Spencer Armuth, Las Vegas,

spencer.armuth@gmail.com