|
Member's News:
|
GADPAC
- Paul Fraysure -
|
2010
has arrived and the new session of the Georgia legislature has convened.
As I write this article, I have just returned from the January session
of the Georgia Dental Association House of Delegates. It opened with a
panel of ten gubernatorial candidates. In attendance were former
Governor Roy Barnes, Congressman Nathan Deal, Secretary of State Karen
Handel, insurance commissioner John Oxendine, Adjutant General David
Poythress, State Senator Eric Johnson, State Representative DuBose
Porter, Ray City Mayor Carl Camon, Ray McBerry, and Libertarian John
Monds. As I listened to each of them speak for 8-10 minutes on their
respective platforms, I couldn't help but think about how each of them,
if elected, could lead the state of Georgia through these difficult
economic times and be sensitive to the dental needs of our citizens and
also the business needs of the dental profession. Prior to the forum,
each of the candidates had received position papers on Medicaid, caps
on non-covered services, SB 50 on silent PPOs, and SB 62 on Prompt Pay.
But then I thought, the Governor doesn't make the laws, he is the
executive officer of the state, and he carries out the letter of the
law. Yes, we need a governor who is friendly to dentistry, but even
more importantly, we need legislators who have open minds to the dental
needs of Georgia citizens and open ears to the voices of the dental
profession as they make legislative decisions.
That is where we dentists come into play. Political involvement; direct
or indirect. Go to legislative receptions and meet the legislators from
our district or go to Law Day at the state capitol and see the
political process in action and meet legislators from other parts of
the state.
Indirectly, we can help support the legislators who support dentistry
by contributing to GADPAC. Your contributions to GADPAC are used to
help legislative candidate’s campaigns. Those legislators who attended
our Central District Legislative Reception were each given a
contribution from GADPAC for their respective campaigns.
Our support of our dental friends at the state capitol is so crucial in
these days of hard decision making about the state budget, Medicaid,
national health care, and other issues that affect dentistry. What can
you do?
CONTRIBUTE TO GADPAC. BE A TEAM PLAYER. IT’S NOT TOO LATE.
- Paul Fraysure - <PFraysure@aol.com>
|
|
Governmental
Affairs
Committee
- Bill Argo -
LAW DAY
We currently have 39 dentists signed up to attend Law Day on
Wednesday March 3, 2010. With healthcare reform, budget cuts,and many
other significant issues on the horizon, our presence at the Capital is
essential. Carpools will be arranged for this event so call Bill
Argo 742-4254 if interested. We will plan to have groups
leaving from Macon, Warner Robins and Milledgeville.
2009 Legislative Reception
Approximately 95 dentists, legislators, and spouses attended the annual
Reception at the Brickyard. This was a productive night for
building and maintaining relationships with our legislators, and it was
a very enjoyable time for fellowship with our colleagues. Thank you to
all who participated.
|
|
|
ADA
Delegation
- Kara G. Moore
If you think that the liberal government is the only enemy to dentistry
at this time, you are wrong. Right now there are two entities that are
singled handedly trying to bring down the dental delivery system as we
know it. The Pew and Kellogg foundations have become the self anointed
Messiah to those who do not receive regular dental care. They have
decided that they know better than anyone else how to solve the problem
of access to care. Instead of restoring funding to already starving
public government programs or encouraging prevention at the public
health level, they have decided to pour millions into grants that will
educate mid level providers. They are particularly targeting states
with weak dental boards and liberal governments but they are knocking
on everyone’s door. Kellogg and Pew have millions of dollars to hand
out, and at this moment, they are dead set on “fixing” dentistry. I
encourage all of you to go to their websites and see for yourself what
is on their agenda.
The big discussion at the level of the ADA involves relaxing our
stringent policy against midlevel providers in order to “be at the
table” for discussions with these foundations. The fear is that if we
leave our policy as is we risk being excluded from their discussions on
how to solve the “access to care” problem. At the moment, Kellogg, in
particular sees the ADA as an obstacle and not a resource on how to
solve the access problem. I feel that the reality of the situation is
that these entities do not need or want us to be “at the table”, so
relaxing our policy would only serve to destroy us.
At this moment your ADA delegation is networking with other states to
make sure our policies are not relaxed but instead are strengthened. We
are doing this in hopes of uniting our organization in the fight to
keep poorly educated providers away from our patients.
Please go to the following site and search for dental care http://www.wkkf.org/
|
|
Guest Editorial
- Ty Ivey -
|
I never thought that I would find myself writing op ed/editorials. But
here I am. I always enjoyed Bill Shipp ( not our fellow dentist, but
the Atlanta Journal columnist ). When he retired last year, the Monday
morning Telegraph was never the same. To me he was generally trying to
educate the public with information that they would not normally
encounter. Of course as in the case of all such scribbling, it was in
the end his opinion.
Today at lunch, I asked John Bowman what he would like to have as the
next topic for the CDDS Newsletter. His request was that something be
written about why we should go to dental meetings. Over the last year,
I have tried to blend information concerning the American Dental
Association into a relevant business metaphor. In September the topic
was bankruptcy and the editor ran it along with the original
inflation/deflation article. A compilation of the two was run in the
Alaska Dental Society Journal in August, but several other state
Journals including our own refused to consider printing this for a
wider audience. It’s alright to grumble, but it makes people nervous if
you put it into writing.
In November, we continued with the hidden problems of ADA Corp and the
secret discussions concerning the ADA’s finances at the ADA meeting in
Hawaii. Our November CDDS newsletter was sent from the state GDA office
to the GDA’s delegation to the ADA House of Delegates. Immediately
after the Georgia ADA delegation received our op/ed piece, three of the
delegates from the Georgia delegation assailed this writer in defense
of their actions and hard work for dentistry. Now, the question put to
you in November was, do you trust the ADA delegation with your future
and I challenged you to check it out. The question was in keeping with
the theme of the previous op/ed pieces that the ADA was the only
organization that could affect your future. Therefore, since there
might be some confusion out there concerning what I meant. Let me make
some direct (always a dangerous thing to do) statements to clarify what
I believe. Keep in mind that I have never written about or taken a
position on the GDA delegation to the ADA. My only reference to them
was to challenge each of you to know what they were doing as they
represented you at level of the national organization.
So here are some declarations as previously stated.
1 – The ADA is the only organization that can affect your professional
life
2 – The AGD is a wonderful organization for many things, but in the
past five years it has demonstrated that it is unwilling to make a
difference in the political fate of dentistry.
Now, back to why you should go to meetings. In my opinion, the ADA (not
the GDA) has failed the average dentist in our state by failing to
represent the values that we were taught regarding the profession and
the attitudes that we should have toward our patients. So how are you
going to change an organization that is failing you? Dropping out is
losing out. You have to know the issues and you have to know what is
going on in your own arena. Where are you going to learn the most about
the profession of dentistry? The golf course, your Sunday school class,
and the local Rotary meeting may be places that produce interesting
tidbits that may be personally and financially rewarding. However,
dentistry is going to be discussed at the meetings of the dental
association and that would be the component of the ADA and GDA – The
Central District. The government is getting involved in health care.
The insurance industry is fighting for its life and your life is
irrelevant to them. The profession’s publications (especially The ADA
News) are written by the ADA staff and what they write is often slanted
to the presentation that the staff of the ADA wants it to be. To
summarize let me make two more comments. One of these may be dealt with
later since we have not discussed it in depth.
1 – The Central District Meeting is the place where the information on
your ability to serve your patients and make a living is discussed.
These discussions may be in the program or they may be in the informal
conversations held at the dinner table.
2 - Membership in the ADA is the only way to have a meaningful chance
to be involved in the future of your profession.
If you think that some issues can be handled differently. Write or call
your Trustee ( Mike Loden) or your ADA Delegate (Kara Moore). They need
to know what you think and you can send your thoughts to Chicago and
the ADA. Better yet, ask to be put on a committee and tell them
yourself.
The battle for the future of dentistry is being fought right now. Not
two years from now, but now. What is your decision? Play or Pass.
- Ty
|
CDDS
EXECUTIVE
MINUTES
|
CDDS Minutes
November 10,2009 CDDS Executive Council Meeting Office of
Lindsay Holliday,7PM
Attending: Roy Lehrman,Kara Moore,Jay Harrington,Kendrick
Mathews,Alfred Peters,Shelia Shah,Deena Holliman-Smith Mike Loden, John
Kuo,Paul Fraysure,Don Benton, Lindsay Holliday.
Minutes of the Sept. meeting Approved by acclamation.
Treasurer's Report; Discussed and approved.Suggestion made by R.Lehrman
to add a bottom line of total assets at end of report that totals both
checking acct and money market balances,will include in Feb. report.
District will proceed with incorporation for tax exempt status with GDA
address for housing filing address to prevent confusion over time with
subsequent treasurers. Kara Moore's report of Base meeting in Warner
Robins,CE on Thurs. evening then a Four Doctor Panel on Friday.
Date to be determined as soon as possible.
ADA Delegation report: K. Moore noted no dues increase this year.She
could not discuss the controversy over the ADABEI, ADA Business
enterprises issue confronting the delegates to the ADA. Stay tuned for
more details as they develop. There is an attorney-client issue
that needs to play out!
Membership: New members noted were Ray Shelko and Tracy Long. Make them
feel welcome when you see them. Suggestion made to have Katy Garvin
assume membership duties next year. Ched Smaha and Kara Moore will
follow up.
Government affairs:Request by Jay Harrington to support Lee Hawkins at
the highest level possible in his bid for Nathan Deal's U.S. House seat
as Nathan will run for governor in November 2010. We need Lee in
D.C.!!!! Also remember Legislative Reception on Dec.1 at the Brickyard.
It is crucial for high attendance with spouses as well. March
3,2010 is CDDS LAW Day at the Capital in Atlanta.Maximum attendance is
required for success under the Dome. We need a new level of commitment
to make a difference for our patients.
Info. Technology: Pres Roy discussed issue of facebook page for GDA
that has been discussed at BOT mtgs.Still in discussion stage and may
be further addressed in Jan. BOT Session. Also discussed was
issue of linking member websites to GDA site as now it is not possible
to do so. Still in discussion at BOT level for now .Roy's
message was that caution is critical at every step regarding these
sites!
Constitution and ByLaws: John Kuo and Kara Moore discussed with EC
options for terms of service for delegates and alternates. After much
debate they will report at next EC Council with best option for a vote.
Pres. Roy brought up need for pre-caucus meeting prior to Jan.HOD
meeting. He will pole members of delegation to determine date and
time of a pre-caucus. Jay Harrington asked question of value of officer
visits at the Caucus breakfasts. Discussion centered around feeling
that sometimes the visit is useful and sometimes it is not very useful.
Jay was quick to note that the HOD is the most important forum for
discussion of ideas.
Council on Dental Health: Shirley Fisher wanted to mention Feb. Give
Kids a Smile month. Please report to her and take photos to send
to GDA office. More info to follow in Jan. regarding locations
and times of events.
New Dentist Cmt. Kara mentioned very successful event sponsored by
Perry Dental Lab, Co-Owner, Casey Daniel on Oct.22. Excellent
fellowship and fun was had by all.
Public Relation-No Report
Peer Review - No report other than workshop at GDA Headquarters on
Jan.9,2010.
Recruitment and Retention: Kara is continuing to update contact info
for all existing and new members for accuracy.
CE Program: Kara updated EC on sign-up for meeting on Nov. 13, Topic is
practice management.
Scholarships: Shelia Shaw submitted names for the Hygiene scholarships
from CDDS and Paul Fraysure updated as well for the GDEF Scholarships
to be presented at meeting on Thurs. evening.
Trustee Report: See Mike Loden's Report. No other business.
Meeting adjourned at 9:10 pm
Respectfully submitted,
Don Benton
Donald B. Benton,Jr.DMD
4128 Arkwright Rd. Ste.B
Macon, GA 31210-1707
478.475.1980 Voice
478.475.5654 Fax
478.960.0287 Mobile
|
|
|
Treasurer's
Report
Treasury Report
Treasury Report of the CDDS as of January 11, 2010
Balance of Checking
Acct
8,368.62
Withdrawals
Flowers,Ivey
Appreciation
42.80
GDA, Invitations for new Dentist
Reception
39.25
Hygiene Scholarship
Certificates
13.57
CGTC
Scholarship
500.00
MGTC
Scholarship
500.00
Macon Letter Svc.
Nov.mailout
595.28
Macon Letter Svc.Leg. Rec.
Mailout
463.13
Nov. Membership
Mtg,IHCC
2,638.13
CE Speaker
Expences
266.88
Aramark Svs,CE
Food,Beveridge
404.16
CE Handout
Material
517.08
Legislative
Reception,Brickyard
4,241.11
Bank Maintenance
Fee
20.00
Deposits
Membership
Meeting
1,385.00
CE
Meeting
2,795.00
Deposits
Nov.Membership
Mtg
1,385.00
Nov.CE
Mtg
2,795.00
GDA Late Dues
Receipts
849.50
Balance
3,199.02
Money Market
Balance
4,919.40
Total Assets of
CDDS
8,118.42
Respectfully submitted,
Don Benton
|
