Supporting Legislative Initiatives for Dental Professionals
Advocacy Day April 17th, 2024
Register here: https://forms.gle/DKrW6vVZHToixter6
Your Advocacy Day packet will contain a complete schedule and additional information to assist you during your day at the Statehouse!
Passcode: 971059
License Portability
Have License Portability. Will Travel.
What is license portability exactly and how does it benefit you as a dental hygienist? In legal terms, it’s an interstate occupational licensure compact that is constitutionally authorized, legally binding and legislatively enacted between states. To put it simply, it provides a pathway for you to be authorized to practice in all states participating in the compact, rather than needing an individual license in each state. Not unlike a driver’s license, this gives you the freedom to cross state lines for new career opportunities without worrying that your license won’t travel with you.
Compacts in Action
States can become members of the compact by enacting the compact model legislation through the state’s legislature and governor. Interstate compacts take time to develop and implement due to the coordination needed between state legislatures, state regulatory boards and the compact commission.
Read the model legislation and find educational resources on the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact by following the link below.
Making Mobility Possible
The Council of State Governments (CSG) is partnering with the Department of Defense (DoD), the American Dental Association (ADA), and the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) to support the mobility of licensed dental hygienists through the development of a new interstate compact. This compact will create reciprocity among participant states, and reduce the barriers to license portability. As a practitioner, you will need to complete continuing education units in the state where you hold a qualifying license to maintain your qualifying license. You will not need to complete units for states where you hold compact privileges.
Dental hygienists are eligible to participate in the compact if they have:
- An active, unencumbered license in any state participating in the compact agreement
- Passed the National Board Examination or other exam accepted by the compact commission
- Completed a clinical assessment
- Graduated from an education program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation
- No disqualifying criminal history
Legislative
Don't know who your senator or representative is?
Find Your Representative HERE.
Click HERE to access the OHASP (Oral Healthcare Access Supervision Program) TOOLKIT.
Click here to read about Ohio's OHASP program and to learn about this opportunity for licensed dental hygienists in Ohio.
O-HY-PAC
O-HY-PAC is the Ohio Dental Hygienists’ Political Action Committee. With O-HY-PAC, we can continue to support and educate the elected decision-makers on issues of concern and interest to our profession. This process is a great way for all dental hygienists to get involved with the political process with very little commitment. Remember, we all have a stake in the success of our profession and want to see it continue to do well.
What is a PAC? A PAC (Political Action Committee) is a popular term for a political committee organized for the purpose of raising and spending money to help elect candidates. A PAC’s money comes from voluntary contributions from individuals rather than association dues. Although commonly called PACs, federal election law refers to these accounts as “separate segregated funds” because money contributed to a PAC is kept in a bank account separate from the association’s operating funds. Further, these funds are only used to support political campaigns, not to pay for our lobbying activities or other association business.
O-HY-PAC was created to identify candidates who support the efforts of ODHA and to support their campaign efforts. To continue to be an effective voice for the profession, it is critical to put a financial emphasis on our positions.
Contributions can also be mailed to our treasurer:
Maggie Biddle
TOGETHER, WE CAN AND DO MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!
First, we would like to thank all of you who have donated to O-HY-PAC in the past. We really appreciate your support. Without your donations, we cannot exist. As you know, we are all in this together, and the purpose of O-HY-PAC is to support ODHA’s legislative initiatives.
We are once again asking for each of you to consider donating one hour’s salary to O-HY-PAC. When considering all that O-HY-PAC is trying to accomplish for you, this is really a small amount. If you cannot donate this amount, we do understand. Please consider donating an amount that is reasonable for your budget. Every dollar helps and is appreciated. Thank you for helping to support your professional PAC.
Advocacy Day 2023
