Message from the ODA President

Thriving Through Uncertainty By Paul Mullasseril, DDS

Six eventful months have gone by and the next six months look as uncertain as ever. However, your ADA and your ODA remain strong and committed to serving you and our profession. As the nation claws its way out of this morass, the dental profession has shone a light on the steps needed to keep people safe. I am proud of the way our profession has mitigated the risks, safely reopened our businesses and inspired confidence in our patients. Both the ADA and ODA have worked hard to do their part in this recovery. Recently, under the chairmanship of Dr. Lindsay Smith and the leadership of Ms. Lynn Means, we conducted virtual meetings with our Oklahoma congressional delegates and Senators. The discussions

"I am proud of the way our profession has mitigated the risks, safely reopened our businesses and inspired confidence in our patients."

were extremely cordial and productive. They included our concerns as a profession, including simplifying the process of PPP loan forgiveness, the tax implications of PPP, the increased financial burden created by increased PPE costs, and the McCarranFerguson reform. Each and every lawmaker was supportive of small businesses in general and dentistry in particular, and promised their assistance. On September 21, the House passed H.R. 1418, the Competitive Insurance Reform Act, due to the combined efforts of the ADA and individual state dental organizations. Future efforts to have it passed in the Senate will involve each and every one 6 journal | Nov/Dec 2020 of you. When passed into law, this reform will hold insurance companies to the same standards as any other business, fostering competition among insurance companies and benefiting our patients.

Last week, under the chairmanship of Dr. Steve Young, the Council on Budget and Finance passed the budget for the upcoming year. In spite of the cancellation of our 2020 Annual Meeting, which brings in a substantial amount of money, we have a balanced budget. I am also pleased to inform our members that we will not be increasing ODA dues again this year. This is the tenth straight year of zero dues increases. I am very proud of Lynn Means, Shelly Frantz and the other ODA staff for working hard to make sure we are fiscally responsible.

As you know, OkMOM 2021 in Shawnee has been cancelled. While this was a gut-wrenching decision for all, it was the collective opinion of all the stakeholders that going ahead with this massive event could prove disastrous. OkMOM 2022 will be held in Shawnee and we will partner with the same organizations to pull it off. This November, we had planned the first Veterans Day in collaboration with the OU College of Dentistry. Again, out of an abundance of caution, we have decided to postpone this event until February 2021. Planning is underway and I appreciate the hard work from the planning committee, ODA Special Projects Manager Abby Sholar, and Henry Schein for supporting this venture.

Planning for the Annual Meeting in Tulsa continues with full force. Stacy Yates and the team are in the process of confirming our speakers. We have an exciting list of speakers and I hope we have an overwhelming response from our members. In light of the current state of affairs, the Board of Dentistry has increased the number of hours dentists can secure virtually, and the ODA has conducted multiple seminars to meet the needs of our members. I am pleased to report that in spite of troubled financial times for our profession and country, membership has remained strong under the watchful eyes of ODA Director of Membership Kylie Faherty and Membership Manager Madison Bolton; our numbers have not been adversely affected. We hope to continue our efforts to provide value to our members. A major part of this success has been our Rewards Partners, including OneSource. Makenzie Dean (ODA Programs & Operations Manager) has kept our members updated with the latest offers from our partners.

Another major development on the horizon is the push by Governor Stitt to institute managed care for our Medicaid system. While this did not make sense on many fronts, Lynn Means and our lobbyist, Scott Adkins, have made sure that we as an organization have a seat at the table during the initial negotiations. Under the guidance of the ADA, we’ve made sure that the Governor’s team knows our concerns, and we’ve been successful in providing our input right from the beginning, including the RFP process. We hope that the final outcome will serve our patients and dentists well.

When I took over as President of the Oklahoma Dental Association, several past presidents advised me to articulate my vision for the year and then get out of the way of the staff. This has been an exhilarating six months for me. Whether it be handling media relations, keeping up with our membership numbers, or addressing budget matters, the process has been smooth and educational. I would be remiss in not acknowledging the selfless work of our volunteer dentists who serve on various councils and committees. Their efforts, dedication and wisdom keep our organization strong.

“Of all the hardships a person has to face, none is more punishing than the simple act of waiting.” While we anxiously await the eradication of the virus, successful institution of a vaccine, and restoration of our way of life, I look forward to the next six months and pray that our profession thrives and our nation heals.