AOS MEMBERSHIP NEWS Legislative Member Benefit: Advocacy for Professional Equality I know that when the subject of “advocacy” is mentioned, two things happen. The first is absolute bore-dom if you’ve never felt professional discrimination or had your practice challenged by another colleague or action by the State Board. The other reaction by those that have felt challenges to their career is intense emotion and genuine appreciation for their professional associations when they step forward to help. Visiting legislators in Washington DC is the normal view of advocacy. And, we in the AOS, do partner with the Academy of General Dentistry for trips to our Capitol. However, “the rubber meets the road” for YOU, based on decisions made by YOUR State Board. Due to special interests among board members, their decisions may heavily impact your scope of practice. The AOS has worked closely with the State Board of Dental Examiners in Texas to significantly impact key areas of adver-tising of credentials and scope of practice concerns for the GP and Pedo, and we spend a lot of time doing it. If you have a concern in your state, please let us know. Does your state deny GPs the authorization to participate in Medicaid orthodontics? Let us know and we’ll work to change that. Has your insur-ance company denied you payments because you are not an orthodontic specialist? Let us know if they do. Recently, we attended a State Board of Dentistry’s open forum that was gathering information with the intent to change the way in which GPs could advertise their services. Clearly, this change was NOT in the interest of the GP, affecting thousands more than even our own members. We provided public support and even addressed the committee on behalf of the Academy of General Dentistry David M. Thorfinnson, DDS position. Most likely the AOS will be AOS President invited to sit on any sub-committee that meets to author any changes. Is advocacy boring? Not to our members who have been positively affected by this member benefit. We’ve re-invited everyone to our AOS Connect portal, accessed through Dental Town. This private forum is open to any member who wishes to post questions or cases, or simply make comments and ask questions. Become a “Townie” and join AOS Connect. It’s easy. If you have any questions contact our Executive Director, Tom Chapman at tchapman@orthodontics.com. Finally, your North Lander President is glad to see the temperature turning upward as we prepare for summer. I hope your summer is full of fun and family time. Let’s please remem-ber our members and the patients and families they serve in Oklahoma and Texas who have suffered so much from the floods of the past two months. David M. Thorfinnson, DDS www.orthodontics.com Summer 2015 53
Journal of the American Orthodontic Society Summer 2015-Buyer's Guide: Page 53
