March 20, 2006

Sen. Susan Collins Joins ADHA on Capital Hill To Receive an Award
in Recognition of her Efforts to Improve the Nation’s Oral Health

WHAT: More than 170 members of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) will meet on Capitol Hill to ask legislators to write the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) in support of exploration of the Advanced Dental Hygiene Practitioner (ADHP)—a new oral health care provider who will address access to oral health care.

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and a representative from Sen. Jeff Bingaman’s (D-N.M.) office, the top two oral health advocates of the U.S. Congress, will address the group. Each will receive an award from ADHA in appreciation for their commitment to improving the oral health of the countless underserved Americans.

Last December, President Bush signed the Department of Health and Human Services fiscal year 2006 funding bill that was accompanied by a Senate Appropriations Committee report including language encouraging HRSA to explore the creation of the ADHP. Similar to how the nurse practitioner was created, public need is the momentum behind the ADHP. “Inclusion of ADHA’s language is key to the success of the proposed ADHP concept. Since it is an exceedingly tight fiscal environment, we will not see HRSA action on the ADHP without significant congressional interest. The bottom line is this is a tremendous victory for dental hygiene and those unserved Americans who will be directly impacted by the ADHP,” said Katie L. Dawson, RDH, BS, ADHA president. Addressing the access to oral health care crisis in this country, particularly for rural or inner city residents, homebound adults or nursing home patients, the ADHP will provide traditional preventive dental hygiene services as well as basic restorative services.

WHEN/WHERE:

Morning Briefing, 8 to 9:45 a.m. (ET), Gold Room of the Rayburn Building, Room 2168
Afternoon Reception, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. (ET), Russell Building, Room 385

WHO:

• Sen. Susan Collins (afternoon reception) and a representative from Sen. Jeff Bingaman’s office
  (morning briefing)
• Katie L. Dawson, RDH, BS, ADHA president
• Ann Battrell, RDH, MSDH(C), ADHA executive director
• ADHA Board of Trustees
• 170 dental hygienists representing more than 30 states

MEDIA CONTACTS: Pam Anton, 312-440-8943, media@adha.net (March 20) or Jeff Mitchell, 630-363-0753 (on-site, March 21). More information on the ADHP is available on ADHA’s Web site in the Press Room at http://www.adha.org/media.

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