example of this. We have watched our health insurance premiums increase every single year. The GDIS team worked diligently with several insurance carriers to bring our membership age banding rates. This means premiums will be based on the age of the member or primary insured. Monthly premiums will be attractive to our younger members while older members may see an increase in their monthly premiums. For a member who sees an increase, the GDIS team will now be able to offer individual plans through Aetna, Anthem, United Health Care, and Kaiser. If you haven't reached out to your GDIS representative recently you need to. Let your GDIS team show you, as they have shown me, what a relationship with an insurance agency should be like. The GDA has a robust Continuing Education (CE) program. They are a reliable source for our mandatory CE requirements, providing CE in numerous formats to allow members to tailor their consumption to their needs. Every year at the annual convention, the GDA provides access to nearly a year’s worth of CE through some very accomplished and entertaining speakers. Each fall, they also offer a CE conference to again, gain inperson CE credits. If you prefer live and recorded webinars, you’ve got free Friday offerings in addition to affordable options to fulfill many required topics. The GDA’s CE offerings don’t stop with you. They also offer training for your dental teams, including the well-respected Expanded Duties courses, Radiation Safety, and Phlebotomy training. The GDA is only one of three Phlebotomy training providers recommended by the Georgia Board of Dentistry. If you haven’t taken advantage of CE with the GDA, I encourage you to do so. During COVID, the GDA took the unprecedented act of providing CE for free to all dentists in Georgia regardless of membership. I don’t know about you, but when COVID first started causing disruptions in our practices, I felt anxious and alone. The education provided by the GDA about treatment protocols, infection control, and numerous other novel issues we had to deal with allowed me to calm down and get back to treating patients. This is a great example of the value GDA CE provides. Rebranding Integrity Dental Buyers Group (IDBG) to GDA Dental Supply Company is a strategic move designed to clarify the mission and enhance the value proposition of the supply service. The new name, GDA Supply Company, reflects a focused commitment to providing top-quality dental products at competitive prices. This rebranding builds on the benefits previously established by IDBG, including price reductions that have led to competitive pricing from major suppliers and a track record of reliable supply, particularly during the COVID pandemic when steady inventory was crucial. Members are now encouraged to select six products each month from a curated list, which includes popular items like Lidocaine, Carbocaine, Septocaine, saliva ejectors, sterilization pouches, and patient bibs. This approach aims to enhance clarity about the company’s role, maintain competitive pricing, boost member engagement, and strengthen the reputation by showcasing the reliability demonstrated during challenging times. Overall, the rebranding should streamline messaging, reinforce the supply program’s value, and continue to offer cost-effective solutions for dental professionals. This is by no means a comprehensive list of where value can be found when you choose to become a member of the GDA. The value proposition has always landed on the side of maintaining my membership. In addition to all of the financial value that I receive, I have gained significantly more through my participation. I can’t really put a price on the many friendships I’ve made through service to the association. I hope when the time comes, and you’re making that decision for yourself, that this has helped you to remember some of the services that give back to you and it makes that decision just a bit easier. Wishing everyone a safe and enjoyable holiday season, with a bright year ahead! for the 2025 GDA Convention & Expo Amelia Island, FL SAVE the DATE June 19-22 2025 | 7 Nov 2024
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