PAGD Keystone Explorer Summer 2019

Keystone Explorer |  Summer 2019  3 executive director’s message Your PAGD dues will go up by ten dollars in 2020. Now that this has sank in, you may be asking, “What is PAGD doing that necessitates this?” Well, I’m glad you asked. The PAGD Board has just finalized a three-year strategic plan with some ambitious goals. In order to see progress in any of these goals, PAGD will have to commit financial resources towards them. Here is some of what we have planned for 2019–2022: Advocacy Goal, Objective 3.4: Assess the viability of challenging PPO reimbursement rates For years, PAGD members across the career spectrum have identified low PPO reimbursement as the primary obstacle in their practice. It places a financial burden on practitioners that deal with rising office costs and loan repayment, and members have identified it as a factor that compromises the care you can provide to your patients. In our efforts to address this, we need to quantify the problem. To do so, we hope to work with clearinghouses that will look at the reimbursement rates you receive and publish a report. If it says what we believe it will, we will have the evidence to challenge the managed care system. Both the metric collection and the advocacy efforts will require a financial commitment. Advocacy Goal, Objective 3.3: Assess viability of outside lobbying counsel for advocacy work Advocacy has always been a secondary goal for PAGD. Sure, we’ve monitored and provided information to members wherever possible and attended the State Board of Dentistry meetings. But our primary focus has been on improving your skills as a practitioner through high-quality continuing education. 2019 has proven to us that PAGD cannot continue to have advocacy as a distant-second goal. We have sat on the sidelines too long, and do not have the reputation at the Capitol that we need to have for our positions to matter to our elected officials. We have left the advocacy to other organizations that represent diverse interests and have hoped and prayed that the compromises they reach will suit us. In 2019, these compromises did not meet our standards for general dentists, and we realized that we owe it to PAGD members to represent those practicing general dentistry at the Capitol. We have been fortunate to work with the lobbying firm of Buchanan Ingersoll and Rooney over the past year, and AGD has provided financial support to assist in these efforts. This experience has shown us how far we truly must go to establish PAGD as a voice in Harrisburg. We need proactive solutions to meet unmet dental needs, or we will not be able to counter other less-effective proposals. This is the reason why we will be looking to retain lobbying counsel going forward. Before you slander the good name of PAGD for the sake of ten dollars, please consider what you pay in dues to similar organizations. Also consider what these measures, if successful, could mean to you, your practice, and the communities that you serve. If you still feel like venting, please call me at 717-737-4682. I’d be happy to share the entire strategic plan or financial statements with PAGD members and can always discuss what we are working together to accomplish. PAGD is your association and we believe that we have greatness in store in the future. What Can Ten Dollars Buy You? By Steve Neidlinger, CAE