ADHA Responds to ADA Reports on the Economic Viability of Mid-level Providers
Chicago, July 31, 2012—The American Dental Hygienists’ Association reviewed the six studies released July 25 by the American Dental Association examining the economic viability of mid-level providers in dentistry and finds that the methodology utilized to conduct the study impacts the validity of the conclusions drawn by the research. The research, conducted by ECG Management Consultants, Inc., views the access to care crisis through the lens of economic viability and makes assumptions about mid-level providers that may not be accurate. >More

ADHA Moves on From 'The View'
Over the course of the last two weeks, ADHA has been in contact with ‘The View’ to address inaccurate comments made on the show about the dental hygiene profession. Upon further discussion with ADHA, ‘The View’ has issued a second response on its blog. >More

Supreme Court Upholds Virtually All of Health Reform Law, Including Dental Provisions
Yesterday, the Supreme Court of the United States issued its ruling on the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). By a vote of 5 to 4, the Court ruled that the law is constitutional.  > More

The American Dental Hygienists' Association Responds to PBS Frontline's 'Dollars and Dentists'
Chicago, June 28, 2012 – The American Dental Hygienists' Association (ADHA) applauds PBS's Frontline for its special, 'Dollars and Dentists,' a program addressing the "broken nature" of the current dental care system in the United States. The program highlighted the significant obstacles many Americans face in accessing oral health care – a shortage of dentists in many parts of the country and the high cost of dental treatment. The access to care crisis in America is complex and requires a myriad of solution strategies to create a true system of quality oral health care that is lacking today.  > More

ADHA Supports Comprehensive Dental Reform Act of 2012
Chicago, June 6, 2012 – The American Dental Hygienists' Association (ADHA) commends Senator Bernard Sanders, Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Primary Health and Aging, and Congressman Elijah Cummings, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for their leadership on oral health issues by introducing the Comprehensive Dental Reform Act of 2012. This legislation seeks to overcome the many barriers that over 140 million Americans face in accessing oral health care services, ensuring that the public has dental coverage and access to safe and high-quality oral health care.  > More

American Dental Hygienists' Association Names New Director of Governmental Affairs
Former Minnesota State Senator Ann Lynch appointed to director post
ADHA is pleased to announce the appointment of Ann Lynch, as its director of governmental affairs effective June 5, 2012. As leader of the division, Lynch's responsibilities will include overseeing the strategy and execution of ADHA's advocacy efforts on the federal level in Washington, D.C. and directing the governmental affairs staff in their support and counsel to ADHA's state organizations in all their advocacy initiatives. > More

2012 issues of Access magazine are now available online!
Anyone is welcome to read Access online free of charge; members’ and subscribers’ printed editions are not affected. Future digital editions will be announced through ADHA Update, or you can link through ADHA’s publications page. To see the April issue, click here. Use the archive button on the upper left to see the March, February and January issues.