KDA Today

KDA Today

For Immediate Release

Date: Oct 24th, 2016
Contact: Richard A. Whitehouse
Phone: 800-292-1855
Email: info@kyda.org

You Cant Always Get What You Want

And now, for something really different, a little rock & roll trivia…

In 1969, the Rolling Stones released a song entitled, You Can’t Always Get What You Want. Today, it is revered as one of the top 100 rock songs of all time. At the time, it was just the B-side of the Honky Tonk Woman 45rpm release. (Note: Hipsters and those over 55 will know that the “B-side” or “flip-side” of a vinyl record was often reserved for supposed less commercial offerings by recording artists.)
Dentists have the answers. Dentists have the numbers. Dentists must now demonstrate the political will to stand for oral health in the commonwealth and provide a better vision for policy makers to follow.

Wikipedia cites that Mick Jagger and Keith Richards wrote this song about the “end of the overlong party that was the 1960’s.” It may seem to some that the good times dentistry has enjoyed over the years are coming to an end, too. In the last few years, the proverbial dental ox seems to have been gored…repeatedly. So, the irony that this song would be off the 1969 album Let it Bleed is not lost on me. But, that’s not all she (or they) wrote. Read on.

The purpose of this article is neither to wax nostalgic nor lament the hand we have been dealt. Rather, it is to encourage members to continue fighting with the KDA in furtherance of polices that advance the profession and improve oral health for all Kentuckians. Advocacy on behalf of dentists and their patients is a key benefit of membership and the cornerstone of ensuring the integrity of the dental profession through better public policy.

The Bevin Administration campaigned on changing the Medicaid system in Kentucky. One way or the other, it is certainly going to happen. Although we did not have the opportunity to influence the policy in a manner we believed was most favorable to dentists and their patients, we know we must double-down on efforts to make the voice of organized dentistry heard in Frankfort. If our voice is muted, others will fill the vacuum.

We have worked to meet and provide information to the new administration that would aid in better policymaking. Of course, we believe policies that promote oral health do much to ensure overall health. In addition, they ultimately represent a cost savings through early identification of disease and infection, decreased dependence on emergency departments, and maintenance of an able-bodied workforce that need not be dependent on government for health insurance. We believe our goals are consistent with those espoused by the administration. We will continue to work to achieve them. But, we won’t win every battle.

Certainly, there have been small victories. The Kentucky Senate passed two bills last session that KDA supported. These bills are a step toward reigning in managed care organizations. SB18 enhances the notice provisions required by law before an insurer can change the terms of a contract with providers. In addition, SB20 offers providers an administrative hearing after exhaustion of the managed care organization’s own internal appeals process.

Much more needs to be done. Prior authorization reform needs to be implemented. Dentists should not be forced to refund monies paid to them for services they provided to patients who were deemed Medicaid-eligible at the time treatment was provided. They should never be expected to pay for problems that are not of their own making. In addition, the issue of non-covered services will again need to be revisited if federal legislation does not pass. It is unfair for insurance companies to tell dentists what they can charge for services not part of a health plan. However, unless, organized dentistry doubles down on its effort to influence and steer public policy, the future of the profession will be left to the bureaucrats and the bean counters.

The KDA will work to lead the way. We will continue to advocate a strong vision for better public policy related to oral health. We are currently developing a legislative agenda for the 2017 session. But, we know the threats on the horizon from student debt and creating a sustainable model for access to care to the affront of denturists and dental therapists. Dentists have the answers. Dentists have the numbers. Dentists must now demonstrate the political will to stand for oral health in the commonwealth and provide a better vision for policy makers to follow.

But, to succeed, we need a grassroots effort leveraging the resources of the KDA and ADA with local component societies. What organized dentistry needs to do is play better together. Dentists must become more active in their local societies. If you haven’t encouraged a colleague to get involved in organized dentistry, please consider doing so in order to preserve this profession into the next generation. As importantly, stay informed of the issues facing dentistry and be prepared to assist in promoting solutions through the legislative and administrative process.

Nothing happens if we don’t have a strong ground game. Component societies need to sponsor more legislative meet & greets. Every member should plan on attending KDA Legislative Day in February 2017 and our annual meeting at French Lick in September 2017. Every dentist can be a key contact. They can call their legislator when organized dentistry needs to support or oppose legislation.

Even if we execute the plan well, dentistry will not stay the same. We cannot stop change from occurring. That is a fantasy rather than a plan. Change will come. It always does. We can make things better. But, that only happens with a strong profession driving that change. Dentists are best positioned to articulate the real change needed and make the case for improving oral health in Kentucky.

We all know what happened to Mick, Keith, and the rest of the boys. They kept on doing what they loved to do. They changed over the years. But, the change was on their terms. There were highs and lows. But, they never went away. And, today, they are still going strong…together. Dentists might do well to follow their lead. Maybe organized dentistry should embrace the optimistic hook following the title lyric you can’t always get what you want that tells us, “…if you try, sometimes you just might find you get what you need.”

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