Save the Date
for ADHA Center for Lifelong Learning
at the 89th Annual Session, Phoenix, Arizona

For more information visit http://www.adha.org/annualsession2012/index.html

Massachusetts Delegates
E. Jane Crocker, Chair
Jamie E. Russell
Sandy Nicholas
Paula Morrison

Massachusetts Alternate Delegates
Janet McLane
Nancy Mann

Listed below are the final actions taken by the House of Delegates in disposition of PR’s and PBY’s.

Reference Committee A:

Reviewed and placed on file were the following reports: Council on Policy and Bylaws; Council on Public Health; Council on Public Relations; President; Executive Director and ADHA Institute of Oral Health.

Reference Committee A reviewed the following PR’s:

Proposed Resolution 1 – to rescind previous glossary definition of Dental Public Health Setting 10S-00 and adopted the following: Dental Public Health Setting: Any setting where population-based, community-focused oral health interventions can be used and evaluated as a means to prevent or control disease.

Proposed Resolution 2 – ADHA’s HOD adopted the following definition: At-Risk Population: A community or group of people whose social or physical determinates, environmental factors or personal behaviors increase their probability of ********

Proposed Resolution 3 – ADHA’s HOD adopted the following definition: Needs Assessment: A systematic process to acquire, through analysis of a system’s strengths and weaknesses, in order to improve this process to meet existing and future challenges.

Proposed Resolution 4 – ADHA’s HOD adopted, with amendments to the existing policy on Education/Continuing Education 21-88, the criteria for assessing the need for new dental hygiene programs within a community.

Proposed Resolution 5 – Rejected amendments to current policy on Prevention and Wellness/Addiction 6-07/9-87. The current policy reads: “The American Dental Hygienists’ Association advocates collaboration with organizations to identify promote and utilize available substance abuse and addiction resources and programs”.

Reference Committee B:

Reviewed and placed on file the following reports: Committee on Annual Session; Committee on National Boards; Council on Regulation and Practice; Council on Research; HY-PAC and the Tobacco Intervention Initiative Advisory Committee. Reference Committee B reviewed testimony regarding the report of the Council on Research and referred all testimony back to the Council on Research for further consideration.

Proposed Resolution 6 – ADHA’s HOD adopted to rescind “Access 16-00/21-84”which endorses increasing public access to dental hygiene care. This policy was referred back to Council for reconsideration.

Proposed Resolution 7 – ADHA’s HOD adopted the following definition: Direct payment: The Dental Hygienist is the direct recipient of payment for services rendered.

Proposed Resolution 8 – ADHA’s HOD adopted the following definition: Third Party Payment: Payment by a financial agent, rather than direct payment by the patient for services rendered.

Proposed Resolution 9 – ADHA’s HOD adopted, as amended, the following definition: Collaborative Practice: An agreement that authorizes the Dental Hygienist to establish a cooperative working relationship with other Health Care Providers in the provision of patient care.

Proposed Resolution 10 – ADHA’s HOD adopted, as amended, the following: That the American Dental Hygienists’ Association recommends the implementation of Oral Health Diagnostic Codes as part of the federally mandated and standardized code sets in oral health care to improve diagnosis, prevention and the treatment of oral health diseases and conditions.

Proposed Resolution 11 – ADHA’s HOD adopted the following policy “Practice and Technology 13C/46-80” as amended to read: The American Dental Hygienists’ Association supports qualified dental hygienists’, (i) owning and operating dental hygiene practices, (ii) entering into provider agreements and (iii) receiving direct and third party payments for services rendered, in accordance with applicable state laws.

Reference Committee C

Reviewed and placed on file the following reports: Committee on ADHA Procedures; Committee on Governance; Committee on Diversity; Council on Education; Board of Trustees; Executive Committee; Johnson & Johnson Awards Committee; Finance Committee and the Council on Member Services. The following recommendations from reference committee were forwarded to the appropriate councils or committees: inclusion on an example of a completed testimony from the Delegates Manual; Rules of Conduct for Reference Committee Hearings be enforced; funding of the Finance Committee; electronic materials will be provided to next year’s HOD and Dental Hygiene Accreditation Feasibility Study needs to be a higher priority in the Strategic Plan

Proposed Resolution 12 – ADHA’s HOD adopted, as amended, the following definition: Diversity: An inclusion of carried characteristics, ideas and world views in a community.

Proposed Resolution 13 – ADHA’s HOD adopted, as amended: that The American Dental Hygienists’ Association is an inclusive organization. We value the differences within our membership and we recognize that diversity adds value to our organization, our mission and the quality of our programs and services.

Proposed Resolution 14 – ADHA’s HOD adopted, as amended: The American Dental Hygienists’ Association upholds that dental hygienists are ethically and legally responsible and directly accountable for the quality of the services they provide. NOTE: testimony on the HOD floor by NH delegate Pamela Delahanty directly influenced the insertion of the words “ethically and legally” into this PR.

Proposed Bylaws Amendment 1: ADHA’s HOD adopted: Members with Disabilities: Active members who are unable to work due verified disability may apply for disabled status. All applications must be verified by the American Dental Hygienists’ Association and must be accompanied by proof of eligibility each year.

Proposed Bylaws Amendment 2: ADHA’s HOD adopted: Composition: The Finance Committee shall be comprised of the President, President-Elect, Treasurer, and four (4) additional voting members to be nominated on a regional basis and elected by the HOD. “At-Large-Members”: the At-Large-Members may not be members of the Board of Trustees. In order to create a staggered term, two At-Large-Members shall be elected each year. The President shall serve as Chair of the Finance Committee.