Page 3 - GP Fall 2019

Guest Editorial
GP SPRING 2019 gaged in anti-competitive conduct. It passed
the House by nearly unanimous consent last
Nathan Hershkowitz, DDS, MPH, MAGD, LLSR
session and there is great expectation for the
political stars to align for passage in the Sen-
Report
McCarran-Ferguson repeal legislation would
AGD 2019 Hill Day ate too in the current session. The proposed
The Journal of the only apply to the business of health insur-
From CE and advocacy to netw orking opportunities, the AGD is the only organization that New York State Academy Timing is everything! ance, including dental insurance.
exclusively represents the interests and serves the needs of the general dentist. Start taking of General Dentistry The 2019 Hill Day
advantage of our member benefits by joining today at www.agd.org or 888.AGD.DENT. event took place Mon- It should be noted that AGD has lead the ef-
New York State Academy of General Dentistry day April 29th – Tues- forts this year with the ADA’s support to suc-
19-02 Whitestone Expressway, Suite 204 day April 30th. Mon- cessfully assemble a coalition of health care
Whitestone, NY 11357 day’s session was held organizations, including the American Medi-
Telephone: 718-747-3353 at the “Liaison Capitol cal Association (AMA), that are backing this
Fax: 718-747-3355 Hill Hotel” begin- measure. Indeed, Senator Steve Daines of
To Contact the NYSAGD, visit our website ning at 2:00 pm. Tuesday’s program began Montana, the lead Republican sponsor of S.
at www.nysagd.org at 7:00 am, with 36 attendees gathering for 350, publicly responded to my question about
S. 350 at another forum by asking me if I’m
Janice Pliszczak, DDS, MS, MBA, MAGD breakfast and brief remarks before moving a dentist as he lauded organized dentistry’s
on to visits with our individual members of
Editor Congress. (A “shout-out” must proudly be leading role in promoting this long-overdue
Joseph DiDonato, III, DDS, MBA, FAGD made to my colleague, New York’s Seonha legislative correction.
Associate Editor Park, DDS, who previously represented Mas- My own contribution on Hill Day was to pres-
Paula Bostick sachusetts on AGD Hill Day visitations be- ent our case for S. 350 to Ms. Alaura Ervin,
fore she joined our New York AGD Board of
Executive Director Trustees this year upon her recent move here. deputy legislative aide to Senator Tim Scott
Great working with you, Seonha!) (R-SC.) I was warmly welcomed in the South
2019 Executive Council Carolina senator’s office even as a non-con-
A very critical meeting took place on Mon- stituent, a New Yorker, because of a personal
President – Karthilde Appolon, DDS day morning. Traveling to DC from New Jer- connection we had made several years earlier
Continuing Education Practice Management 250 West 57th St., Suite 805, New York, NY 10107 sey on the Amtrak train were former Chair, when Mr. Tim Scott was a freshman con-
Get convenient educational opportunities through free online CE, Enhance your practice with new member benefits like AGD Patient AGD Legislative & Governmental Affairs gressman. He was merely looking for direc-
local constituent events, and AGD publications. Alerts, a fully-automated patient communication service that President-Elect – Berry Stahl, DDS Council, Joseph A. Battaglia, DMD, FAGD, tions to the Western Wall during his free time
integrates with your existing practice management software to 4422 Third Avenue, Bronx, NY 10457 and AGD Treasurer, Elizabeth A. Clemente, on a business visit to Jerusalem, Israel, and I,
AGD Licensing Board Transcript deliver quality patient communications like appointment reminders, Vice-President – Teresa Skalyo, DDS, FAGD DDS, MAGD. Meeting them from Connecti- a fellow tourist, responded-to his surprise- by
Eliminate the pressure of organizing your CE. The AGD Licensing birthday greetings, and e-newsletters using e-mail, text messaging, 404 W. William Street, Suite 1, Geneva, NY 14456 cut was AGD Past President, Maria A. Smith, recognizing him from a profile published in
Board Transcript tracks your completed CE courses and is customized and more. Treasurer – Joseph DiDonato, DDS, MBA, FAGD DMD, MAGD. The three of them noted the one of our New York newspapers. We really
to show the specific requirements needed to renew your license with 608 South Avenue, Rochester, NY 14620 presence of Democratic Senate Leader Chuck bonded, even though our political affiliations
your state board. Free Insurance Contract Analysis Schumer in their train car! So Dr. Battaglia are not identical, and have remained in inter-
Get free and speedy insurance contract analysis, which will help you Secretary – Shahram Shekib, DDS, FAGD found the opportunity to “buttonhole” the mittent contact since then.
Achievement Aw ards assess the terms and ramifications of insurance contracts. You’ll also 2178 63rd Street, Brooklyn, NY 11204 very approachable New York senator and
Distinguish yourself in the profession through the only achievement receive assistance with reimbursements and other dental care issues. Editor – Janice Pliszczak, DDS, MS, MBA, MAGD educate him very pleasantly on some of our Ms. Alaura Ervin from Senator Tim Scott’s
based awards in general dentistry—the prestigious Fellowship (FAGD) 4827 Broad Road, Syracuse, NY 13215 issues and dentistry’s role in American health office subsequently wrote me to “thank [me]
and Mastership (MAGD) Awards. You can also track your progress Web Tools National Trustee – Abe Dyzenhaus, DDS, FAGD care. so much for taking time to meet with [her]
toward Fellowship or Mastership with the AGD Award Transcript. Get connected through a variety of Web tools, including e-mail and being so informative when answering
forwarding with an AGD e-mail address, a member Web page 84-09 35th Avenue, Jackson Heights, NY 11372 I’ll never forget the look of surprise on Dr. [her] questions.” Well, for that I must express
Advocacy and Representation builder, Web forums, online case studies, podcasts, a blog, and even Regional Director – Ira Levine, DDS, FAGD Battaglia’s face when I greeted him shortly appreciation for persuasive preparation in the
Through action alerts, public awareness initiatives, state legislative AGD wallpaper for your computer’s desktop. 111 North Central Park Avenue, Suite 280, before our 2:00 pm session that day by in- outstandingly comprehensive program orga-
meetings, and an annual trip to Capitol Hill, the AGD exclusively Hartsdale, NY 10538 forming him that Senator Schumer’s discus- nized by AGD staff leaders such as Michael
represents and protects the interests of general dentists. Take Patient Referrals Immediate Past President – Brian Ciporin, DDS sion with him would be reviewed during my Toner, Manager, Government Relations and
immediate action via the quick and easy online Capwiz tool, and Increase traffic to your practice with help from the Find an AGD 68-39 Myrtle Avenue, Glendale, NY 11385 own already-scheduled Tuesday meeting Associate Executive Director Daniel Buk-
make a direct impact on your state and federal representatives. Dentist patient referral program. We’ll connect you with patients in with the senator’s senior legislative aide for sa in tandem with our DC lobbyist Patrick
your area through our online database or the toll-free referral hotline. health care issues, Mr. Matthew Fuentes! I O’Connor. Ms. Ervin ended her note,”-
AGD Annual Meeting & Exhibits eventually assured him that I had indeed ar- Looking forward to working with you,” but
she knows I’m a full-time dentist so I passed
Earn CE, see the latest products and technology, and network with Patient Education rived in DC on an earlier Amtrak train but this on to Mr. O’Connor and his very capable
your colleagues with your discounted registration to the AGD Annual Empower your patients with www.KnowYourTeeth.com, the AGD’s Drs. Clemente and Smith had “briefed” me in team to actually follow-up with the senator’s
Meeting & Exhibits. Your registration includes capsule clinics, lectures, newest go-to resource for consumer oral health and dental care GP – Journal of the New York State Academy of the hotel lobby when we met as they checked staff on this and other matters. Stay tuned…
General Dentistry is published twice a year by
the exhibit hall, social events, and an inspiring opening session. information. You can also access oral health education materials from the New York State Academy of General Dentistry. in. Bottom line: I was assured by Mr. Fuen-
the AGD, like customized fact sheets, oral health tips and resources, The issues are mailed out in March and September tes on Tuesday that there are no government As I wrote in my previous reports: Every leg-
Free Aw ard-Winning Publications and Dentalnotes, a quarterly patient newsletter based on recent to all the members of the New York State Academy funds available for “socialized dentistry.” No islator is already an AGD member’s acquain-
worries!
Stay informed with free subscriptions to AGD’s award-winning research and studies. of General Dentistry and are available on-line tance, friend/friend of a friend, neighbor-or
publications. AGD Impact keeps you current on general dentistry at www.nysagd.org. All correspondence should As in previous years, many issues were dis- patient! And even if the one who represents
news, and General Dentistry, our peer-reviewed scientific journal, And So Much More! be addressed to the Editor at 19-02 Whitestone cussed in our preparations but our legislative you is not someone who already has your ear
informs you of all the latest advancements in the profession. An Contact the AGD Membership Services Center, toll-free, at 888.AGD. Expressway, Suite 204, Whitestone, NY 11357. agenda was focused. Our number one legisla- as a “captive audience” in your dental chair,
The views, opinions and recommendations
archive of articles is also available online. DENT, or visit our Web site at www.agd.org for more information. expressed in this publication are those of the tive “ask” this year is passage of the Compet- you may find that s/he is very approachable
respective authors and are not necessarily itive Health Insurance Reform Act of 2019 and even eager to help on issues of concern to
endorsed by the Academy of General (S. 350/H.R. 1418). This bill would amend our profession. So the take away message is:
Dentistry. Placement of an adver- tisement in the McCarran-Ferguson Act to empower the Legislators ARE people who are looking to
GP – Journal of the New York State Academy Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Dept. be cultivated. As you never know when you
of General Dentistry does not indicate an really may need assistance, it is wise to make
endorsement of its products or services by the of Justice (DOJ) to enforce federal antitrust
Academy of General Dentistry. laws against health insurance companies en- a relationship before then.
www.nysagd.org l Fall 2019 l GP 3