Dental Politics 101:
The most important course you won’t
take in dental school.
Education: The Key to Your Future
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Basic Sciences
Ethics and Professionalism
Clinical Dentistry
Critical Thinking
Patient Management
Dental Politics
Your Profession, Your Future
Decisions made at the state level and in
Washington 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
Whether you like it or not…
GOVERNMENT IS IN THE DENTAL BUSINESS
- What you pay for your dental education
- Your state dental license
- Taxes (personal and business)
- Personnel
- Regulatory mandates
- Healthcare Reform
If Dentists Sit on the Sidelines
Government can’t MAKE your business but it
can BREAK your business. Examples:
 Minnesota – Licensed Dental Therapist
 Colorado – Independent practice for RDH
 Alaska – Dental Health Aide Therapist
 Maine – Dental Therapist
Protecting the Dental Profession
Members cite political advocacy is the #1
benefit in organized dentistry
- states employ lobbyists
- Most state associations have a council or
committee on Governmental Affairs
- State Political Action Committees
- American Dental Political Action Committee
Advocacy Begins with Relationships
Relationships are built on a 3 legged stool:
1. Financial Support/Volunteerism
2. Visibility (“Face Time”)
3. Credibility/Trust
Advocacy Flow Chart
Relationships
Greater Access to Policy Makers
The POSSIBILITY of Greater Influence
Principles of Preventive Dentistry
(Political Style)
1. DON’T wait until a crisis occurs to develop
relationships with decision makers
2. Developing relationships takes time and $
3. There is no vaccine. Continuously nurture
current relationships even if there is no
apparent crisis on the horizon.
4. We must establish new relationships with
newly elected public officials
What You Can Do
• Take the time to learn about the political
process in your state
• Learn about issues that are important to your
future
• Join ASDA (American Student Dental
Association) and ADPAC
• Attend political events in your area
What has ADA Advocacy Done
for me?
Legislative Successes That Save You
Time and Money
ADPAC
Your Voice on National Issues in
Washington
Protecting Your Practice
• Fought to exempt your practice from
unwarranted government mandates
o Successfully repealed Red Flags Rule for small
businesses (savings: $1600/annually)
o This alone has saved you more than the cost of
membership in the ADA, NCDS, and your District!
o Successfully exempted small businesses from
complying with 1099 Reporting
o Depending upon the size of your practice, this
saved you between $600 and $1500 annually in
accounting fees.
Unwarranted Government Mandates
• Advocating for incentives that expand your
business opportunities.(Section 179
Expensing)
o This allows dentists to use an accelerated
depreciation schedule for purchases of new
equipment
o An accelerated depreciation schedule translates
into lower taxes on the new equipment you need
to provide the best care for your patients
o For those who take advantage of this opportunity,
this saves you thousands of dollars.
Shielding Your Practice from New
Taxes
• Killed the proposed tax on cosmetic
procedures (Health Care Reform)
– If this had been included in the Health
Reform Legislation, you would have to
charge patients a tax on all cosmetic
procedures performed in your practice.
– AND, you would have to pay additional
administrative and accounting fees to file
the necessary tax forms.
– Estimated annual savings: $500 - $1000
Shielding Your Practice from New
Taxes (2)
• Worked to prevent a proposed tax on S
Corporations which are the most prevalent
business model for dental practices.
– For those who operate within an S
Corporation, this kept you from paying
increased federal taxes which would have
decreased your profitability.
– For the average dental practice, this
amounts to approximately $1500 a year.
Helping Reduce Practice Overhead
Costs
• Worked to get an amendment passed in the
Senate to reduce credit card swipe fees
– This decreased the transaction fees charged
on accounts that were paid via credit card.
– Estimated savings: $200 - $500 per year
• Fought to exempt dental practices from being
mandated to provide health care to
employees (Health Care Reform)
– Allows practice owners to choose how much
they contribute (if any) to employee health
insurance cost
Enhancing the Image of Dentists
On Feb 9, 2011 the Dental Emergency
Responder Act was introduced in the U.S.
House of Representatives. This would deploy
dentists during a natural or man-made
disaster.
• This enhances the image of the profession by
educating policy makers regarding the
extensive education and training that are
required to become a dentist.
Savings Summary
Program
Annual Savings
Exemption from Red Flags Rule
$1600
Exemption From Onerous 1099 Reporting
$600
Favorable 179 Expensing
variable
No Taxes on Cosmetic Services
$500
No Additional Taxes on S Corporation
variable
No Excessive Credit Card Transaction Fees
$200
No Federal Mandate to Provide Health Care Insurance
for Employees
Thousands of $$$$
No Caps on Fees for Non-Covered Services
$2500
TOTAL SAVINGS
$5400
Thank You!