January 12, 2024
What do the MDA President, MLR and Op-Ed have in common?
We had a wonderful confluence of resources and opportunities this week when MDA President, Dr. Jeremy Bowen, posted an opinion piece on improving access to dental care. This well-written piece explains, in easy-to-understand terms, what a Medical Loss Ratio (MLR) is and why we need one in dentistry. Dr. Bowen’s position as MDA President gives weight to the source and will open dialogue as the session begins. MLR is a major agenda item for the MDA Lobby Team this year. Here’s how you can help. Share Dr. Bowen’s piece with others to help educate them on the issue. Here’s the piece as posted in The Missouri Times. and also right here on MoDental On Demand. You can also register and attend Dental Day at the Capitol on March 6 so your elected official can hear directly from you, a dentist, on why we need MLR (and other priority agenda items). Together, we thrive!
A Seat at the Big Table
This week I was able to represent the MDA at ADA meetings in Chicago. We heard from ADA ED, Dr. Ray Cohlmia. The primary agenda was preparing for the new Association Management System and Customer Relationship Management System going live in July. These are much more robust platforms that will enable a singular transactional system that will make the member experience faster, customized and rewarding. While too complex for my brain to summarize here, just know that the transition is long-awaited, and while there may be a few bumps in the rollout, we all expect great things. Forward we go! Additionally there was more discussion on membership model changes that will enhance the culture around membership. On this issue there are a wider range of emotions around risks, opportunity, time tables, etc. The common ground is change is needed. I had great respect for the people in the room and their experience and commitment to leading your association. The difficult thing is the patience to wait. Kind of like my travel experience when I had to wait four hours during this week’s weather for my plane to depart. But all is well that ends well.
The Week Ahead – Brrrr is good for Pediatric Pearls, Plus OPA Training and Installation on the Horizon
Wicked temps this coming week will make all of us think twice about getting out of bed, but here’s a great opportunity for you that you can do in your pjs next to your fireplace. Our first-ever member led CE for the MODental On Demand platform will be Wednesday, January 17 at 6pm. MDA member and Springfield pediatric dentist, Dr. Ashely Popejoy, will be presenting via webinar the first of two 90-minute CEs on tips for treating children. It’s free. You just need to join the 100+ you have already registered. If you can’t attend, the content will be made available on MDOD for you to watch at your leisure. Please contact me if you want to discuss the possibility of presenting something of value to your fellow members in the future.
Additionally, the very first Oral Preventative Assistant training session will be held at the brand new MDA Clinical Training Center here at the MDA building next Friday. I will be sure to post photos and speak with both trainers and trainees about the experience. This is big on so many fronts, and a ton of hard work by so many has gone into the pilot program.
And after all the staff meetings and zooms and regular work, I will join Dr. Bowen next Saturday for the Greater St. Louis Dental Society Installation of incoming president, Dr. Andrew Bruening. Due to post time, I will share a report the following week.
Quote of the Week
Go Chiefs! and Baby, it’s cold outside!
