ADA News
We will work with you, Rep. Simpson tells WLC
Washington—Dentist/Rep. Mike Simpson told the nation's dental leaders he will work with them to enhance Medicaid reimbursements and make other changes in the recently enacted health care reform legislation.
"It is the law of the land and we will work closely with the ADA to try to make sure that reforms to this reform meet with the dental profession's needs so that you can continue to do the job that you do and that is providing dentistry and oral health care for millions of Americans," the Idaho Republican said in a keynote address opening the April 12-14 Washington Leadership Conference.
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| Dr. Tankersley: Thanks the group for their commitment to dentistry. (Photos by Bill Geiger) |
He thanked the dentists in the audience for "taking time out of your practices" to come to Washington to lobby Congress and said, "We'll keep working with you on those issues that are important to you."
Some 600 dental advocates, including politically active grassroots dentists from across the country and state association representatives, registered for the annual springtime conference/lobbying opportunity. ADA President Ron Tankersley welcomed them to the nation's capital. "Your willingness to come to Washington to advocate for our profession and the patients we serve is a critical element if we are to be successful in our government affairs," Dr. Tankersley said. "I thank you for that commitment."
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| Color guard: An eight-member Armed Forces Color Guard, the official ceremonial units for their respective services, Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard, provides opening ceremony for the 2010 Washington Leadership Conference; Jennifer Stothoff, Navy veteran, sings the Star Spangler Banner. |
Rep. Simpson told WLC attendees he has "real concerns" about the new health care legislation but "we've gotta work with it and make some changes. Even though I disagree passionately with the health care bill that was passed, this system works. The American people are engaged and you are engaged in the issues that are important to dentistry."
Introduced as "dentistry's best friend in Congress," Rep. Simpson said he will be the lone dentist in Congress after Rep. John Linder (R-Ga.) retires this year "unless we elect several of the dentists that are running today," a remark that drew hearty applause.
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| Capital Elite: Attending her first WLC at her own expense and not as one of Missouri’s designated attendees, Dr. Cheryl Haley, an Ozark general practice dentist, joins ADPAC’s Capital Elite with a $500 contribution because “I want to make a difference;” she also supports her state dental PAC. |
He said he would advance legislation to improve dental reimbursements in state dental Medicaid programs. Rep. Simpson is the lead Republican cosponsor of the ADA-backed Essential Oral Health Care Act to improve essential oral health care for lower-income individuals under the maternal and child health and Medicaid programs. Among other provisions, the EOHCA would offer increased federal matching funds for states opting to improve access to Medicaid dental services.
"We didn’t do that in this (health reform) bill; we didn't increase the Medicaid reimbursement rates," said Rep. Simpson. "We're working on that. I've got a bill to do that. Dentists should at least be paid what it costs to provide the service. We will be working on this (health reform) bill for the next several years trying to get it right."
Offering a welcome to Washington "during a nuclear conference," the congressman said to laughter, "You thought I was talking about the nuclear summit, didn't you. I was talking about the health care debate." President Obama convened an April 12-13 nuclear security summit of world leaders amid heightened security in the extended downtown area encompassing the WLC and the international conclave some 10 blocks removed.
