Day on the Hill
The 2009 Day on the Hill event will take place Wednesday, April 29 at the Madison Hotel in Washington, D.C. Mark your calendars and plan to advocate with AAOMS in D.C. next year.
2008 AAOMS Day on the Hill Highlights OMS Advocacy Efforts
Approximately 75 oral and maxillofacial surgeons from 25 states and the District of Columbia met with more than 125 Congressional leaders and their staff during the 2008 AAOMS Day on the Hill program in Washington, DC on April 15-16. This year's event was dedicated to the late John F. Freihaut, DDS of Georgia, who was a long-time participant in Day on the Hill and slated to take over this year as Chairman of OMSPAC. As a special addition to the program, AAOMS welcomed U.S. Representative Phil Gingrey (R-GA), a long-time friend and colleague of Dr. Freihaut's, who provided a moving tribute.
Prior to the dedication, AAOMS President Lee D. Pollan, DMD, MS, presented the AAOMS 2008 Legislator of the Year award to U.S. Representative Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY). The Congresswoman introduced the "Children's Access to Reconstructive Evaluation and Surgery (CARES) Act" (H.R. 1655) to protect and promote access for children suffering with childhood deformities and craniofacial abnormalities, and has worked tirelessly to pass this important legislation. Concluding the evening's program was pollster and author of the Cook Political Report, Charlie Cook, who presented a candid update on the hot button issues driving the 2008 race for the White House — a value added inside look behind the scenes for Day on the Hill participants.
The following day began early with a breakfast session featuring U.S. Representative Lois Capps (D-CA), senior member of the powerful House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Health and chair of many congressional healthcare caucuses. Joining Rep. Capps was health legislative assistant for Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ) who, along with Congressman Eric Cantor (R-VA), introduced the Medicare Oral Health Rehabilitative Enhancement Act (H.R. 5590) to provide a legislative fix allowing OMSs the ability to refer Medicare patients for physical therapy.
In addition to educating Congress about the specialty, participants advocated for a number of OMS issues, including support of the CARES Act, the Medicare Oral Health Rehabilitative Enhancement Act, and a resolution designating April 2008 as National Facial Protection Month (H.R. 1062). AAOMS also asked for legislators to support increased access to care, specifically by requesting support of the Essential Oral Health Act of 2007 (H.R. 2472), as it goes the furthest to accomplish and encourage provider participation.