Why is it important to build relationships with legislators ?
consideration of our bills , and House and Senate leaders who ultimately decide whether or not to schedule our bills for a vote by the full legislature . We also met with freshmen legislators to familiarize them with PDA and to offer ourselves as a resource on dental issues . We met with about 150 legislators in total .
All in all , it was a good day and a good event . Every year , we illustrate to policymakers and others that we care a lot about the profession and patients . And , let ’ s face it , these people are all in the position to make your lives a little bit worse , or a little bit better . Either way , you should want your own seat at their table .
One of the most infamous quotes in politics is that while you might not have a seat at the table , you can bet pretty confidently that you ’ re on the menu for discussion , maybe even for consumption . Besides all the insurance practice and licensure issues , there are a lot of unknowns about just how federal health care reform will impact the profession . Just by voting and being an engaged constituent , you have earned that seat at the table . Through your membership with PDA , your seat also represents more than 5,200 of your colleagues . If you don ’ t take that seat , someone else will . And you might not like what they have to say .
Please consider attending next year ’ s Day on the Hill on June 3 , 2014 . Do your part to advocate for your livelihood , which you ’ ve worked so hard to achieve . Stay tuned for more information — and mark your calendar !
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Dr . John Maynard , Camp Hill
“ I think it ’ s important for PDA to build relationships with legislators because they are the ones that control a lot of what we do and have a lot to do with how dentistry is run . I have a feeling that if we don ’ t get in touch with them there is no way they will know what is important in dentistry . Dentistry is a very specialized field and I think that we need to inform them about what is important for us , and important for our patients most of all .”
Dr . Nicole Oravec , Lilly
“ I think it is very important to build relationships with legislators so that they have a connection with what ’ s going on in the health care field and they have a connection with what is actually happening to their constituents . I think that sometimes they are not aware of the issues we run into with insurance companies and medical assistance .
I think this is the only way for us to convey to them what they need to do and for us to identify the different bills that need to be passed in order to help constituents have a better life and to actually get the best out of our money and out of our government .”
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