The ADA is working to prevent dental insurers from interfering when a contract dentist agrees to furnish a non-plan service to a patient who knows the service not covered by his or her plan. This includes preventing insurers from arbitrarily changing the terms and conditions of the practitioner's contract without the practitioner's acknowledgement and acceptance of the new terms of service.
Dental and Optometric Care Access Act (DOC Access Act)
- March 4, 2025 — Letter of Support to U.S. House of Representatives on Dental and Optometric Care (DOC) Access Act. (PDF)
- February 25, 2025 — Letter to U.S. House of Representatives on H.R. 1521, the Dental and Optometric Care (DOC) Access Act. (PDF)
- March 30, 2023 — Letter to Congress in support of H.R. 1385, the Dental and Optometric Care (DOC) Access Act of 2023. (PDF)
- November 13, 2020 — Letter Thanking Senators Manchin and Cramer for for leading S.4894 the Senate DOC Access bill. (PDF)
- October 15, 2019 — Letter thanking Reps. Loebsack and Carter for leading H.R. 3762 DOC Access Act. (PDF)
- July 16, 2019 — Letter thanking Reps. for sponsoring H.R. 3762 DOC Access Act. (PDF)
- April 24, 2017 — Letter urging the House Committee on Energy and Commerce to favorably report H.R. 1606, the Dental and Optometric Care Access Act (DOC Access Act). (PDF)
The Association's positions are based on the major policies and positions (Members Only) adopted by the ADA House of Delegates. (PDF)
Related stories from the dental profession's most widely read news source, ADA News.
- ODC continues to support DOC Access Act (ADA News 10/21/19)
- ADA president gets to know Washington (ADA News 10/18/19)
- Dentists flood Capitol Hill (ADA News 4/18/18)
- Issues take center stage at ADA Dentist and Student Lobby Day (ADA News 4/9/18)
- ADA advocacy highlights from a busy 2017 (ADA News 1/16/18)
- American Optometric Associations visits ADA (ADA News 10/13/17)
- ADA reaffirms support for Dental and Optometric Care Access Act (ADA News 4/25/17)
- ADA, AOA support bill to prohibit fee setting for noncovered services (ADA News 3/21/17)
- 'Advocacy is one of the ADA's most important duties' (ADA News 5/3/16)
- ADA, optometric association encourage federal legislation to eliminate noncovered services (ADA News 3/23/16)
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Last Updated: October 17, 2019