Published on March 5, 2010 at 4:30 AM
American Dental Association President Dr. Ronald Tankersley testified today before an Institute of Medicine Committee on Oral Health Access to Services, outlining the ADA's efforts to address ways to improve access for underserved populations.
Dr. Tankersley took the IOM to task for its decision to exclude private practice dentists from two panels it is convening at the behest of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to study oral health care delivery and access. Private practice dentists represent nearly 92 percent of all professionally active dentists, Dr. Tankersley said, and their input is crucial to addressing the oral health care access issue. Also of concern to the ADA, he added, was the closed-door nature of much of the committee's business.
SOURCE American Dental Association