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Dentists will soon be able to more directly assist in the battle against COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.

On Tuesday, March 16, the Senate unanimously approved HB 1079, an IDA-supported bill that allows dentists with proper training to administer vaccines. Last month the bill was overwhelmingly approved by the Indiana House, so it will soon be on its way to the governor’s office for his signature. Unlike most new laws that go into effect on July 1, this bill was given emergency status, allowing it to go into effect as soon as the governor signs it.

The bill addresses other important issues. It modernizes Indiana’s definition of dentistry, bringing it into closer alignment with language recommended by the American Dental Association. This expanded definition limits liability risk by lessening the chance a dentist practicing within standards of care could be charged with providing treatment outside of his or her legal scope of practice.

The bill also addresses virtual credit card (VCC) payments, prohibiting insurance companies from using  VCCs as their only method of making claims payment to dentists. A 2020 survey of IDA members indicated that 61 percent of dentists felt VCCs were problematic, primarily due to their large transaction fees. The newly passed legislation requires insurance companies to offer dentists at least one alternative to VCC dental claims payments.

The change in Indiana law vaccine law comes on the heels of a March 11, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) emergency declaration extending civil liability protection to dentists and dental students who are vaccinating patients for COVID-19.

Overview of Vaccine Administration

The general stipulations of the vaccination language in HB 1079 include:

• Patients must be 11 or older.
• The dentist must be certified in CPR.
• The dentist must complete a course of vaccine instruction approved by the Indiana State Board of Dentistry. One option is the CDC’s You Call the Shots course: www.cdc.gov/vaccines/ed/youcalltheshots.html
• Only licensed dentists may administer vaccines to patients.

 

Our Vaccine Administration Guidelines booklet has more information about education, reporting guidelines and approved vaccines.

Approved Vaccines

There are 20 vaccines that dentists may administer to patients 11 and older. To view the full list, view our Vaccine Administration Guidelines booklet.

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The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has amended an emergency declaration under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act to authorize additional providers, including dentists and dental students, to vaccinate patients for COVID-19 nationwide

With the amendment, HHS is also granting temporary liability protection to those additional providers who administer the vaccine during the pandemic. The ADA had advocated for HHS to issue guidance regarding temporary civil liability protection and sent a Feb. 11 letter to the agency. On March 11 the White House said that the administration will expand the pool of qualified professionals able to administer vaccines to include dentists and other providers.

If you would like to register as a volunteer to administer the COVID-19 vaccine in your area, visit the HHS website.

The IDA’s bill, HB1079 – Definition of Dentistry/Vaccine Administration/Virtual Credit Cards, passed unanimously out of the Senate Health & Provider Services Committee this week, 11-0. The bill has been scheduled for a 2nd reading on Monday, March 15.

A 2nd reading is an opportunity for any final amendments/changes to be made to the bill before moving onto a final 3rd reading vote before the full Senate. We do not anticipate any amendments.

It is worth noting that HB1079 was amended during Senate committee to update the effective date of the bill from July 1, 2021, to “Effective Upon Passage.” This means that once the bill passes out of the Senate, it will go directly to Governor Holcomb’s desk to be signed into law.

Please reach out to your State Senator and encourage a YES vote on this legislation. Click here to find your State Senator.

 

SB3: Telehealth Matters

SB 3, related to various telehealth matters, passed out of the Senate and has been referred to the House for further consideration. SB 3 would permanently codify many of the expansions in telehealth implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure all Hoosiers have access to the health care they need regardless of where they live.

The bill would also expand the application of the telehealth statute currently in place to include more licensed practitioners and specify the various activities that would qualify as health care services under telehealth law.

 

HB 1002: Civil Immunity Related to COVID-19 (House version)

HB 1002 is the House version of the civil immunity COVID-19 bill. The bill’s intent is similar to that of SB1, but HB 1002 goes a bit further by specifically referencing health care providers as persons protected from civil immunity for damages arising from COVID-19.

The bill passed out of the House 76-21 and has been assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

 

SB 3: Telehealth Matters

SB 3, related to various telehealth matters, passed out of the Senate and has been referred to the House for further consideration. SB 3 would permanently codify many of the expansions in telehealth implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure all Hoosiers have access to the health care they need regardless of where they live.

The bill would also expand the application of the telehealth statute currently in place to include more licensed practitioners and specify the various activities that would qualify as health care services under telehealth law.

 

HB 1286: Telehealth Matters

HB 1286 is the House version of the telehealth expansion bill. The bill closely mirrors that of SB 3 and passed out of the House 93-0. The bill has been assigned to the Senate Health & Provider Services Committee.

 

Get Involved

Always your eyes and ears at the statehouse, the IDA will always advocate on behalf of dentistry in Indiana.

If you are not already a Contact Dentist, we can use your help, especially if you have an existing relationship with your legislator, or are willing to establish one.

If you have questions or concerns, contact IDA Director of Government Affairs Shane Springer at the email link below or by phone at 317-634-2610.

 

Contact IDA Director of Government Affairs Shane Springer

Donate to IDPAC

Sign up for our Legislative Alerts

 

 

IDA Vice President Dr. Steve Hollar has announced his candidacy for the Indiana University Board of Trustees. Dr. Hollar needs a minimum number of 200 signatures within the next three weeks to appear on the ballot in June, and we’re asking IDA members to help support Dr. Hollar’s candidacy.

Having a dentist as part of the Board of Trustees would be invaluable to advocating for the education of future dentists and hygienists at the IU School of Dentistry. Please see below for more information and instructions on how to add your signature in support of Dr. Hollar’s candidacy.

Electronic Signatures Accepted

Because of the ongoing COVID outbreak, Governor Holcomb is allowing candidates to collect both original and electronic signatures. The mechanism for obtaining electronic signatures is Adobe Sign.

Who Can Sign?

Anyone who graduated from an Indiana University campus or school is eligible to add a signature in support of a candidate for the election in June. Feel free to forward this link to friends, family and staff members who are IU graduates. Signatures must be submitted by April 1.

Adobe Sign Instructions

To add your signature electronically, visit the Adobe Sign page. The instructions below will help you complete the process correctly.

1. List Dr. Hollar’s name in the Candidate’s Name section: Dr. Hollar’s first name, Steven, goes on the left line. His last name goes on the right line.
2. Add your information to the next section: Enter your personal information in the next section. Be sure to write your name as it is listed on your diploma(s). If you have multiple degrees from Indiana University under different names, list the name from your most recently earned degree.
3. Click on the bottom to sign: At the bottom of the screen, click the blue ‘Click to Sign’ button and sign your name electronically.
4. Enter your email: Enter your email address when prompted. Be sure to enter a correct address, because your signature will not be counted until you complete step 5 below.
5. Confirm your vote: Immediately look for an email from Adobe Sign asking to verify that you voted for Dr. Hollar. You must click link to have your vote count.
6. Vote in June: This signature drive for Dr. Hollar simply allows him to appear on the ballot. The actual Board of Trustees election will occur in June. Watch your email in June for instructions on how to vote in the election.

Click here to access the Adobe Sign page. Thank you for your support.

 

About Dr. Hollar

Dr. Steven C. Hollar earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from Indiana University School of Dentistry in 1993. He has lived in Warsaw, Indiana for the past 28 years where he is the owner and operator of Hollar Dental Group.

Dr. Hollar is currently the Chair of the Dental COVID Task force and President-Elect of the Indiana Dental Association. Prior to this role, he was appointed by governors Mitch Daniels and Mike Pence to the Indiana State Dental Board. He served for nine years and was chair of the regulatory board for two years.

Dr. Hollar has served organized dentistry his entire career. He has been a Delegate for the American Dental Association as well as the Indiana Dental Association yearly since 2002. He is the Chair of the IDA’s Strategic Planning Committee.

The past two years he was honored to serve on the Indiana University Presidential Search Advisory committee at the request of the board of Trustees. He feels Indiana University’s next President should be someone who is inclusive, diverse and can listen to others while leading with conviction. As a proud life member of the Indiana University Alumni Association, Dr. Hollar is passionate about preserving Indiana University’s heritage for future generations. He is ready to work alongside the new President as a Trustee in order to maintain the prestige while propelling I.U. to new heights.

Dr. Michael Mirro, current Chair Indiana University Board of Trustees, said this about Dr. Hollar: “Steve’s proven leadership operating a business, effective management of a large team and strong science background would make him an excellent Trustee choice.” Dr. Hollar brings a unique perspective as both a front-line healthcare worker as well as a business owner. He is passionate about using his skills and prior leadership experience to serve I.U.

 

 

 

IDA is pleased to announce that it has added Practice Protection Insurance Company as our vendor partner for professional malpractice.

“Practice Protection is an Indiana company focused on the liability insurance needs of dentists,” said Dr. David Wolf, 2020-2021 president of the IDA. “Practice Protection’s business model is in perfect alignment with our mission.”

Practice Protection is one of the fastest-growing dental professional liability insurance companies in the nation and is dedicated to the prevention of claims through ongoing risk management services as well as the provision of superior dental professional liability insurance coverage with responsive and aggressive defense of its members. Practice Protection is dentist-owned and was founded by dentists, dental industry experts and professional liability insurance professionals. Click here to learn more about the benefits of Practice Protection for professional malpractice insurance.

 

The IDA’s bill, HB1079 – Definition of Dentistry/Vaccine Administration/Virtual Credit Cards, passed overwhelmingly out of the House of Representatives (96-2) and has been assigned to the Senate Public Health & Provider Services Committee.

The bill has been scheduled for a hearing on Wednesday, March 10, at 9 a.m. Please contact members of the Senate Health & Provider Services Committee urging their support of HB1079.

 

SB3: Telehealth Matters

SB 3, related to various telehealth matters, passed out of the Senate and has been referred to the House for further consideration. SB 3 would permanently codify many of the expansions in telehealth implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure all Hoosiers have access to the health care they need regardless of where they live.

The bill would also expand the application of the telehealth statute currently in place to include more licensed practitioners and specify the various activities that would qualify as health care services under telehealth law.

 

HB 1002: Civil Immunity Related to COVID-19 (House version)

HB 1002 is the House version of the civil immunity COVID-19 bill. The bill’s intent is similar to that of SB1, but HB 1002 goes a bit further by specifically referencing health care providers as persons protected from civil immunity for damages arising from COVID-19.

The bill passed out of the House 76-21 and has been assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

 

SB 3: Telehealth Matters

SB 3, related to various telehealth matters, passed out of the Senate and has been referred to the House for further consideration. SB 3 would permanently codify many of the expansions in telehealth implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure all Hoosiers have access to the health care they need regardless of where they live.

The bill would also expand the application of the telehealth statute currently in place to include more licensed practitioners and specify the various activities that would qualify as health care services under telehealth law.

 

HB 1286: Telehealth Matters

HB 1286 is the House version of the telehealth expansion bill. The bill closely mirrors that of SB 3 and passed out of the House 93-0. The bill has been assigned to the Senate Health & Provider Services Committee.

 

Get Involved

Always your eyes and ears at the statehouse, the IDA will always advocate on behalf of dentistry in Indiana.

If you are not already a Contact Dentist, we can use your help, especially if you have an existing relationship with your legislator, or are willing to establish one.

If you have questions or concerns, contact IDA Director of Government Affairs Shane Springer at the email link below or by phone at 317-634-2610.

 

Contact IDA Director of Government Affairs Shane Springer

Donate to IDPAC

Sign up for our Legislative Alerts

 

 

Volunteer leaders are key to the success of any professional association and the IDA needs your help.

Applications are now being accepted for appointments to committees and subcommittees that provide volunteer guidance on a number of member programs and services. Appointments are normally for two years and begin on May 16, 2021, at the close of the IDA House of Delegates. Most committees and subcommittees meet an average of three to four times per year with a combination of live meetings at the IDA Central Office and video conferences via Zoom.

To apply for a position, you are encouraged to complete and submit the application on our website. Our website also includes brief descriptions of the duties of each committee and subcommittee. You are encouraged to apply for more than one position, as some committees and subcommittees have more open positions than others. The application deadline has been extended to March 19, 2021.

For additional information, contact IDA Executive Director Doug Bush.

The ADA has released a toolkit to help dentists increase patients’ confidence in COVID-19 vaccines. The downloadable resource includes answers to commonly asked questions, advice for social media interactions and tip sheets for dispelling myths about the vaccines and sharing science-based recommendations for pregnant women or those planning to start a family. An Associated Press poll in February found a third of American adults harbored doubts about COVID-19 vaccines.

Click here to view the toolkit.

The Indiana General Assembly has officially reached the “halftime” mark. At this point, all bills passed out of the House will head to the Senate, and all bills passed out of the Senate will head to the House. Then, the process starts all over again! Any bills that have failed to pass out of their respective chamber are now considered “dead.”

HB 1079: Definition of Dentistry, Immunizations, Virtual Claim Payments
HB1079 passed out of House committee unanimously (13-0), and passed overwhelmingly out of the full House (96-2). Senators Ed Charbonneau, Liz Brown and Ron Grooms will be sponsoring the bill in the Senate. We anticipate a committee hearing in early March. Please watch for a “Legislative Alert” letting you know when it is time to contact your senator asking for a YES vote on the bill.

SB3: Telehealth Matters

SB 3, related to various telehealth matters, passed out of the Senate and has been referred to the House for further consideration. SB 3 would permanently codify many of the expansions in telehealth implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure all Hoosiers have access to the health care they need regardless of where they live.

The bill would also expand the application of the telehealth statute currently in place to include more licensed practitioners and specify the various activities that would qualify as health care services under telehealth law.

Other Bill Tracking

Here is a status update on other legislation we’ve been tracking:

DEAD Bills:
SB330 – Dental Therapist; pulled at the request of the IDA
SB74 – Workplace Immunization Prohibition; failed to advance out of committee
HB1021 – Health Workforce Student Loan Repayment Program; failed to receive a hearing in committee
HB1048 – Practitioner Identification and Advertising; failed to receive a hearing in committee
HB1408 – Occupational Licensure Reciprocity; failed to receive a hearing in committee

Bills IN PROGRESS:
Senate Enrolled Act 1 – Civil Immunity Related to COVID-19; signed into law on 2/18
SB3 – Telehealth Matters; referred to House Public Health Committee
HB1002 – Civil Immunity Related to COVID-19; referred to Senate Judiciary
HB1286 – Telehealth Matters; referred to the Senate Health & Provider Services Committee.

 

Get Involved

Always your eyes and ears at the statehouse, the IDA will always advocate on behalf of dentistry in Indiana.

If you are not already a Contact Dentist, we can use your help, especially if you have an existing relationship with your legislator, or are willing to establish one.

If you have questions or concerns, contact IDA Director of Government Affairs Shane Springer at the email link below or by phone at 317-634-2610.

 

Contact IDA Director of Government Affairs Shane Springer

Donate to IDPAC

Sign up for our Legislative Alerts