Representatives advanced the industry at 2022 Advocacy in Action
The voice of the dental benefits industry resonated loud and clear with federal lawmakers this past week as 37 NADP members advocated to over 70 Congressional offices, the most AIA meetings ever to date, for expanded access to dental care during Virtual Advocacy in Action, April 26-28.
AIA advocates represented the industry on the following key issues:
- Independent Purchase on the dental marketplace: Members urged legislators to push for a technical fix on the federal marketplace that would allow consumers to obtain dental coverage separately, without having to first purchase a medical plan.
- DOC Access Act (H.R. 3461, S. 1793): Members explained how this non-covered services bill would ultimately deny consumers discounts and increase their out-of-pocket expenses while limiting employers’ choice and flexibility in plan selection. They also explained the legislation would interfere with provider contracts.
- Mandatory Adult Dental in Medicaid (R. 4439, S. 3166): Members also voiced the industry’s support for the addition of adult dental benefits in Medicaid, noting only 22 states and DC currently offer this coverage.
NADP wishes to thank and recognize the following volunteers who participated in AIA:
- Kara Adame, Mutual of Omaha Life Insurance Company
- Jeff Album, Delta Dental of CA, NY, PA & Affiliates
- Lydia Barad, Lydia Barad Consulting, LLC
- Shannon Bolton , The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America
- Erika Cybulskis, Delta Dental of MI, IN, OH
- Bethany Dougherty, Life & Specialty Ventures
- Dana Faust, Delta Dental of MO
- Alissa Gavrilescu, Cigna
- Suzanne Heckenlaible, Delta Dental of IA
- Donna Hunter, United Concordia Dental
- Molly Imming, Aetna Dental
- Richard Jones, Guardian Life Ins.
- Bernard LaPine, Highmark
- Alex Lundberg, Sun Life Financial
- Lauren Mackela, DenteMax
- Theresa McConeghey, Principal
- Crystal McElroy, MetLife
- Greg Meagher, Sun Life Financial
- Amy Miller, Blue Cross Blue Shield of SC
- James Mullen, Delta Dental of California
- Jennifer Nieto, Delta Dental of CA, NY, PA & Affiliates
- Bradley Peak, Sun Life Financial
- Gary J. Pickard, Pacific Dental Services
- Cory Reynolds, Sun Life Financial
- Devin Rhoad, Mutual of Omaha Life Insurance Company
- Ellen Samuels, Delta Dental of MO
- Jeff Schwab, Dominion National
- Ken Sheldon, UnitedHealthcare Dental
- Jaclyn Strube, Principal
- Mike Trebold, Ameritas Life Insurance Corp.
- JoLou Trujillo-Ottino, Delta Dental of NM
- Kelly Wieseler, Ameritas Life Insurance Corp.
- Sharon M. Williams, Highmark
- Daniel J. Wright, United Concordia Dental