From advocacy to new programs, here are 16 updates by the American Dental Association so far this year:
- Feb. 22: ADA President Daniel Klemmedson, MD, DDS, and Executive Director Kathleen O'Loughlin, DMD, wrote a letter to Congress requesting several changes to the Paycheck Protection Program in the next COVID-19 relief package.
- March 4: The ADA and ADA Member Advantage selected Compliancy Group as the HIPAA compliance management platform recommended for all members.
- April 28: The ADA's Council on Ethics, Bylaws and Judicial Affairs published a whitepaper providing guidance on the ethical and professional obligations of vaccinations.
- May 12: The organization named Raymond Cohlmia, DDS, executive director.
- May 19: The ADA launched JADA Foundational Science, an online open-access journal covering biology, chemistry, engineering, materials science, computer science and informatics, and technology.
- May 19: The ADA issued guidance for member dentists on the CDC's mask recommendations for fully vaccinated people.
- June 30: The ADA's Council on Dental Education and Licensure released new sedation guidelines for teaching of pediatric pain control to dentists and dental students.
- July 14: The ADA released updated pandemic procedures for dental offices to mitigate risks of COVID-19.
- July 21: The Arizona Republic reported that the ADA ended financial support of Rep. Paul Gosar, DDS, R-Ariz.
- July 22: The ADA wrote a letter to CMS in July asking for changes to credentialing and auditing processes that would encourage more dentists to participate in Medicaid and Medicare.
- July 29: The dental association urged dental staff to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
- Aug. 13: ADA President Daniel Klemmedson, DDS, MD, wrote a letter to Congress advocating for an alternative program to provide dental coverage to low-income Medicare seniors.
- Aug. 18: The American Dental Association appointed Elizabeth Shapiro, DDS, as chief of governance and strategy management.
- Aug. 27: The ADA's Science & Research Institute and a group of collaborators received a $3.5 million grant from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative to map out cells in respiratory tissues from adolescence to adulthood.
- Aug. 31: The ADA's Council on Dental Benefits Programs created a task force dedicated to enhancing its Code on Dental Procedures and Nomenclature to ensure it meets the current needs of dental practices.
- Sept. 9: The ADA requested that its member dentists contact members of Congress to oppose dental benefits being considered under Medicare Part B.