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In celebration of outstanding volunteer achievements, the National Association of Dental Plans (NADP) is honoring 11 individuals with the Evelyn Ireland Volunteer Awards featured during Virtual CONVERGE 2020, Sept. 21-Oct 1. The award recognizes annual volunteer contributions necessary for the association to accomplish its mission to promote and advance the dental benefits industry and improve consumer access to affordable, quality dental care.

Wednesday, Sept. 9, by a voice vote, the House Energy & Commerce Committee passed the Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act (H.R. 1379) with no amendments.

As in prior years, NADP is working with the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight (CCIIO), part of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to collect important information from stand-alone dental plan (SADP) issuers.

Save $30 off the ADA Dental Coding Certificate: Assessment-Based CDT Program with the promo code NADP-CDT until 12.31.2021. Start learning today!

Summer is an exciting time at NADP because of the multitude of activities. CONVERGE preparation is in full swing. The strategic planning process continues. NADP has fielded the Social Responsibility Survey to collect valuable information for our advocacy and communications initiatives. The Nominations Committee is developing a list of Board candidates and encouraging members to submit nominations. In addition, preparation is underway for the 2022 Call for Volunteers, which will open in the fall. And, next month we will recognize many of our members by announcing recipients of NADP volunteer awards. As you can see, a lot is going on, and it is my privilege to share a few highlights with you.

Because of Allan Corkum’s leadership, NADP and the Research Commission have set a standard of excellence for new and revised industry research reports, enhancing the association’s reputation as the authoritative resource on dental benefits.

Serving as Your Voice on State Issues Throughout the year, NADP effectively represented members on a variety of state issues as many adverse bills did not pass or were amended…

NADP Engages New Congress in Capitol Hill Meetings This Week This week, NADP Executive Director Evelyn Ireland, Lisa Layman and Rob Foreman, both of Brown Rudnick (NADP’s Washington representation) will meet with senators and congressional representatives from both sides of the aisle to continue dental conversations with old and new friends on the Hill.

As noted last week in the Government Relations Open Forum in Dental Interact (DI), NADP has continued its support for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) in joining a coalition of dental specific trades and consumer stakeholders urging Congress to reauthorize funding for the program, which ends this fall. While NADP has joined other broader coalitions, this letter is dental focused; it was drafted by Children’s Dental Health Project (CDHP) and joined by the American Dental Association (ADA) and others.

NADP and the Commission on Advocacy Policy (CAP) are drafting comments in response to IRS proposed guidance regarding the “Excise Tax on High Cost-Employer Sponsored Health Coverage,” which is also known as the “Cadillac Tax.”