The ADA's Department of State Government Affairs is working with the Minnesota Dental Association (MDA) to craft a response to today's release of legislative recommendations from the Minnesota Department of Health's Oral Health Practitioner (OHP) workgroup that calls for implementation of a "mid-level" dental position as created by legislation earlier this year. Our response will include a wide-ranging public affairs strategy to assist MDA as lawmakers next year consider the legislation again.

In addition to the OHP implementation bill, we believe supporters of last year's advanced dental hygiene coordinator legislation are drafting language that would in essence establish a dental health aide practitioner (DHAT) in Minnesota; they have intimated that they plan to have their bill introduced early next legislative session. This means there likely will be three competing proposals in the Minnesota capital next year, including the MDA-endorsed concept from the University of Minnesota Dental School, a proposed therapist position. That position would create a new integrated member of the dental team while providing for education within the existing confines of an accredited dental school and maintaining critical dentist supervision.

Minnesota is a participant in our State Public Affairs program.

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Washington Office lobbyists met with Sen. Tom Harkin's (D-Iowa) staff last week to discuss health care reform issues. Sen. Harkin is one of the three members of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee appointed by Chairman Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) to examine issues related to health-care reform. Sen. Harkin's staff told us that they are planning on holding a hearing later this week to look at the issues "very, very broadly," with the intent on narrowing down to more specific issues next year.

Most proposals concerning reform of the nation's health care delivery or insurance system do not address dental care specifically, but the ADA is of course monitoring these developments closely in order to protect the best interests of the dental profession and patients.

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