Page 8 - Bulletin Vol 28 No 1 - Jan. - April 2023 FINAL

Message from the Executive Director (cont.)

time and energy to help the ADA succeed. They are the epitome of Red Skelton’s Freddy the Freeloader
character. How short sighted. Besides not receiving sufficient financial support to continue to help

dentists succeed, the ADA is at a crossroads due to the growing number of non-member dentists. As I
stated earlier, one of the reasons we have political clout is we represent the majority of dentists in the
country. Unfortunately as more new dentists graduate and don’t join and our older members retire, that
percentage is dropping. When I joined the ADA during dental school, the ADA represented over 80% of
the dentists in this country. Today that number is getting perilously close to 50%. Once it falls below
that number, our clout with politicians will be severely diminished.

Since you are reading this in our Bulletin, I’m obviously preaching to the choir. But there is something
every one of you as a member can do. If you make referrals, make sure the dentist you are referring to is
an ADA member. I did this in my forty years of practice, and it was effective. Especially for those special-
ists coming in and soliciting your referrals. “Thank you for the lunch, but unless you’re an ADA member
my policy is not to refer.” It also worked the one time I found out I was referring to someone who had let
their membership lapse. I called and said quite honestly because he was no longer a member, I was
going to be referring my patients to another surgeon. He re-joined that week. If you’re not sure if some-
one is a member (and there are a lot who claim to be ADA members on their website when they are not,
but that’s for another discussion) just call us at 516-227-1112. We’ll be able to look it up quickly for you.
Another thing you can do; if you are hiring an associate, make membership a condition of employment.
You don’t have to pay their dues for them, just explain that being a member is so important to the
profession that you require all the dentists in your practice to be members. Period. That was my policy
when I hired associates. Finally, if you find a colleague isn’t a member, hand them a copy of this editorial
and tell them to stop being a “Freddy the Freeloader.” Don’t think you can make a difference? Just
remember the saying, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.”
Stay well,
Gene Porcelli

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Message from the Editor (cont.)

Acme, an agreement I terminated years ago. It turned out no patients came to me through your program,
your “agreement with other companies,” and your inadequate fee schedule are some of the reasons I
withdrew my participation from your PPO.

I think, perhaps, re-joining your plan may still be a good idea. I do, however, have a few requirements of
my own. For my office to participate we will require a five thousand dollar signing bonus and fifteen
hundred dollars a month as a participation payment. After eighteen months of participation payments, my
office will begin accepting patients covered with Acme PPO. And, of course, either your company or my
office can terminate the agreement for any reason given 60 days notice.

Yours,
Donald Hills, D.D.S.

I have not heard back from Acme.
Don

Editor-in-Chief

8 | Nassau County Dental Society ⬧ www.nassaudental.org