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The Florida Dental Association's Official Electronic Newsletter
June 2009
In This Issue:
- 2009 FNDC Registration Reflects Strong Program
- Governor Signs Budget into Law/Requires Competition in Dade County Dental Medicaid Market
- Governor Signs FDA Bill Into Law
- FDA Members on Capitol Hill
- FDA Social Networking Expanding to Include Two-way Communication
- FDA Pins Recognize Loyal Membership
- June Member Voices Survey Question
- May Member Voices Results
News Bites Archives
2009 FNDC Registration Reflects
Strong Program
Registration is continuing at a solid pace for this year’s Florida National Dental Convention (FNDC) to be held at the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center in Kissimmee on Thursday, June 18 through Saturday, June 20. Many workshops are filling up. Be sure to register at www.floridadental.org/FNDC.
Anyone who is interested in serving as a speaker host at FNDC should contact us as soon as possible. Hosts receive free admission to lecture courses of the speaker they host, as well as the opportunity to interact with the speaker at breakfast or lunch in the speaker lounge. If you are interested in hosting a speaker, or if you know a colleague who would like to serve as a host at FNDC, please inquire with Theresa Finch at (850) 681-3629 Ext. 7106.
Governor Signs Budget into Law/Requires Competition
in Dade County Dental Medicaid Market
Gov. Charlie Crist recently signed the budget into law, which was approved by the 2009 Legislature to start Fiscal Year 2009-2010. The budget goes into effect on Wednesday, July 19. The $66.5 billion budget contains federal stimulus funding, as well as steep increases for motor vehicle registrations and a $1 billion tobacco tax hike that will raise the cost of a pack of cigarette by $1.
The approved budget also contains the language requiring the Agency for Health Care Administration to bring in at least one additional provider to the Dade County Medicaid Market. Mandating such competition coupled with the gubernatorial approval of the Florida Dental Association (FDA) bill prohibiting plans from restricting a dentist from contracting with another plan ensures a competitive model in Dade County.
Gov. Crist exercised his discretion by vetoing proviso language that would have saved the state $30 million by imposing a 2 percent pay cut on state employees earning $45,000 and above. This was a big issue of concern for legislators representing state employees, such as Sen. Al Lawson (D-Tallahassee), Rep. Alan Williams (D-Tallahassee) and Rep. Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda (D-Tallahassee). When the governor was asked how he planned on filling the $30 million hole, he said that he will direct agency heads to find 2 percent savings in their various budgets to make up the difference. He also vetoed the Legislature’s decision to sweep $6 million from a reserve fund that pays to process concealed weapons permits. The National Rifle Association and Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Bronson pushed the governor hard to restore the money.
Governor Signs FDA Bill Into Law
Gov. Crist recently signed into law the FDA's primary legislative priority for the 2009 Legislative Session, CS/HB 185, sponsored by Rep. Matt Hudson (R-Naples) and Senator Don Gaetz (R-Fort Walton Beach).
The bill, which goes into effect on Wednesday, July 1, does the following:
- provides increased protections for dental providers who sign contracts with managed-care organizations
- adds a dentist to the Florida Healthy Kids Board of Directors (governor appoints one of three dentists recommended by the FDA)
- provides flexibility in accumulating continuing education hours in the Volunteer Health Care Provider Program within the Department of Health
The FDA issued a press release commending the governor for approving CS/HB 185. A copy of the press release can be found on our Web site at www.floridadental.org.
FDA Members on Capitol Hill
From May 11 through May 13, twenty one FDA members traveled to Washington, D.C. for the American Dental Association (ADA) Leadership Conference to lobby the Florida Congressional Delegation on critical dental issues. Those issues included the “red flags rule,” the McCarran-Ferguson Act (insurance companies’ partial exemption from the Antitrust Laws), the Medicaid program and health care reform. The FDA would like to recognize and thank the following dentists for taking time out of their busy schedules to advocate on behalf of the dental profession:
Dr. Nolan W. Allen
Dr. Gerald Bird
Dr. Terry Buckenheimer
Dr. Chris Cowell
Dr. Alina de la Torre
Dr. Gerri Ferris
Dr. Jeffrey Ganeles
Dr. Joe Gay
Dr. Howell Goldberg
Dr. Chuck Hoffman
Dr. Betty Hughes
Dr. Richard Huot
Dr. Kim Jernigan
Dr. Sandra Lilo
Dr. Sam Low
Dr. Hutson McCorkle
Dr. Michael Reynolds
Dr. Cesar Sabates
Dr. Rick Stevenson
Dr. William Truax
Dr. Paul Werner
Congressional visits were a great success. Dentists were able to reach all Florida congressional members by either meeting directly with the legislator or with their legislative staff. Sen. Bill Nelson and Sen. Mel Martinez were both available to speak with dentists who attended those visits. For more information about the Washington Leadership Conference, visit the ADA Web site at: www.ada.org.
FDA Social Networking Expanding
to Include Two-way Communication
The FDA’s social networking experiment is being expanded to allow two-way communication on the FDA’s Facebook page, allowing friends to carry on dental-related discussions. As Facebook communications are an FDA-member benefit, we will confirm that all existing and new friends are FDA-member dentists. To confirm membership, friends will simply reply to an e-mail and include their ADA-member number. The reply will also serve as an acknowledgement that the “friend” has read information instructing all those who post on the FDA’s Facebook page to not engage in anti-trust activity.
Want to receive up-to-the-minute updates from the FDA? Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. To find us on Facebook, set up a profile at www.Facebook.com and search for “FDA Dental.” To find us on Twitter, set up a profile at www.Twitter.com and search for “FDA Dental.” To find us on LinkedIn, set up a profile on www.LinkedIn.com and search for “Florida Dental Association.”
FDA Pins Recognize Loyal Membership
Recently staff mailed 444 pins to members, recognizing their loyalty and service to the association. The pins are awarded based on years of membership. Life members receive a pin when they reach age 65 and have 35 years of membership. Many thanks to the recipients for their years of support to organized dentistry! The pins were distributed as follows:
- 60 years: 8 pins
- 50 years: 67 pins
- 35 years: 108 pins
- 25 years: 130 pins
- Life membership: 131 pins
June Member Voices Survey Question
Are you planning to attend the FNDC Thursday, June 18 through Saturday, June 20? What are you most looking forward to?
We want to hear from you! Take the survey and let us know.
May Member Voices Results
The May Member Voices survey asked: Did you receive the FDA mailing or e-mail regarding the FTC’s new “red flags rule” pertaining to identity theft and office procedures?
Of the respondents, 89 percent said they did receive the “red flags rule” e-mail sent by the FDA. Of those members, 100 percent indicated that this information was helpful.
Thank you, members, for your participation. Your opinion counts!