MO POHAC Report – April 2023

Each year the AAPD has its annual Pediatric Oral Health Advocacy Conference (POHAC) in DC, and this year was a huge success. Pediatric dentists and dental residents from around the country were in DC March 12-15, where we heard from dental stakeholders in government, honed advocacy skills, and shared networking opportunities. We had a wonderful group from Missouri this year including Tara Craven from Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Amanda Phan from the NYU Langone site in Columbia, Missouri, as well as Trevor Eide from Ohio State University who will be returning to the St. Louis area.

We advocated for three main issues. First, to increase dental and pediatric dental funding through HRSA Title VII funding, as well as increasing dental faculty loan repayment. Second, to include ambulatory surgery centers (ASC) in a new code from CMS (G0330) that would bring dental cases on par with medical cases in payment to the ASC’s, making it more competitive to include dental cases at ASC’s. Lastly, we advocated for the Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act that would cover dental treatment under medical insurance for children with syndromes and other complex congenital medical issues. If you are thinking ectodermal dysplasia and finally getting those children’s dental care fully covered, you would be on the right track.

It was wonderful to see the residents in action,and to see the different congressional offices respond so positively to children’s oral health. We are truly fortunate to advocate for the best patients in the world. Thank you to the SWSPD and the support of resident advocacy! We look forward to many years of inspirational success to come!

Submitted by Aaron Bumann