TDA news
Texas Dental Association:
Representing
Dentists and Patients
Through Advocacy
by Dr. William H. Gerlach
Texas Dental Association Board of Directors, Northeast Division Vice President
The 84th Regular Session adjourned sine die on June 1, 2015.
Lawmakers filed 6,276 bills with 1,280 of them becoming law.1
Out of all bills filed during this legislative session, more than 300
affected dentistry. With the help of Texas Dental Association
(TDA) members from across the state, organized dentistry successfully achieved a hard-fought agenda on behalf of all Texas
dentists and patients — an agenda that improves access to dental
care, reduces taxes, protects patients, and prevented ill-advised
scope of practice intrusions.
During the 84th legislative session, the TDA:
Secured tax relief for dentists. The TDA successfully advocated for
elimination of $200 on dentists’ annual license fee and a 25% permanent rate cut to the state franchise tax;
Advocated for legislation that helps patients. Successfully advocated for legislation that requires state regulated dental insurance
plans to better coordinate primary and secondary insurance coverage. Texas dental patients will now receive the full benefit of
their secondary dental insurance plans;
Stopped unwarranted scope of practice expansions. The TDA
defeated several dangerous scope of practice expansion proposals
including legislation to create a lesser-educated and trained midlevel dental provider and permit dental hygienists to administer
local anesthetic;
18 NORTH TEXAS DENTISTRY | www.northtexasdentistry.com
Eliminated controlled substance registration backlogs. The TDA,
along with other health professional associations, successfully
advocated for legislation that eliminates the state’s controlled substances program at the Department of Public Safety and transfers
administrative responsibility for the prescription drug monitoring
program to the Texas State Board of Pharmacy;
Improved Texans’ access to dental care. The TDA has successfully
advocated:
To reinstate funding for the Dental Education Loan
Repayment Program. This funding helps dentists afford to
practice in rural and underserved areas of the state.
For legislation that expands the list of eligible entities that
may offer the coronal polishing certification course for dental
assistants.
For legislation that requires dental insurance to be included
with health insurance in child support orders.
Enhanced Texas’ oral health infrastructure. The TDA successfully
amended legislation to mandate the state dental director be a
Texas-licensed dentist. This ensures state dental programs are led
by a dentist who has the appropriate level of education and training that the dental director position demands;