Governor Eric Holcomb has temporarily suspended the requirement for live continuing education for licensed professionals in Indiana. The requirements of IC 24-14-3-8 and IC 25-13-2-6 have been waived to allow for a dentist or dental hygienist to utilize distance learning to complete their continuing education requirements for licensure renewal. This Executive Order is temporary but will remain in effect for the duration of the pandemic.

The IDA Leadership Committee invites applications or nominations for a number of IDA and ADA leadership opportunities that will become available in upcoming months.

Positions are for IDA leadership, ADA at-large positions, and the ADA Seventh District.

Please consider applying or nominating candidates for these opportunities. Our website has links to more details on each position.

A January 2021 survey of Indiana dentists shows that the vast majority have received at least one dose of the COVID vaccine. According to the results:

Reasons for dentists and staff not receiving the vaccine include a current or planned pregnancy, inability to take the vaccine because of a medical condition, difficulty securing appointment times, recent COVID infection, wariness of taking a new and rushed vaccine, and doubts about the necessity for a COVID vaccine.

On February 8, HB 1079 passed out of the Indiana House by a vote of 96-2. It is now awaiting a committee hearing with the Senate Health & Provider Services Committee.

HB 1079 addresses these issues important to dentistry:

If you know any of the following members of the Senate Health & Provider Services Committee, please contact them and encourage them to support this legislation.

A new mandate requiring electronic prescribing for narcotics went into effect on January 1, 2021.

According to INSPECT Director Kara Slusser, the requirement is still generating a number of questions from providers. She clarified the following:

The Indiana AIR (Acceptance, Inclusion, Respect) program is seeking applicants for its 2021-2022 cohort.

The mission of Indiana AIR is to cultivate leaders who strive to create a receptive and inclusive dental association in recognition and appreciation of the changing landscape of dentistry. Indiana AIR will provide a diverse group of dentists with education, experience, exposure to opportunity and the confidence to be successful leaders in their practice, their communities and the dental profession.

The deadline to apply or nominate candidates is Thursday, April 15. Click the link below for more information.

IDA is offering the following virtual and in-person continuing education opportunities to members.

The BLS portion of this class is sold out, but spots remain for the OSHA session.

Panelists Tom Bodin, Chris Cuadros and Blake Ring will discuss strategies for financial recovery. Two CE credits will be given.

The IDA is hosting an in-person Midwest Dental Assembly in Indianapolis. The conference will include numerous opportunities for continuing education, and modifications to ensure participant safety will be in place.

If your practice doesn’t show up on page 1 of Google, you may not be seen by people looking for a dentist.

IDA vendor partner ProSites is offering a FREE 15-minute coffee break webinar to show you some ways you can leapfrog your competition and land on page 1.

If you know individuals who have done an outstanding job promoting, practicing or volunteering for the field of dentistry, nominate them for an IDA Award. These awards are presented during the IDA Midwest Dental Assembly and honor dentists, volunteers and dental professionals for their hard work and dedication.

All nominations for IDA Awards are due by March 1. Click the link below to visit our awards page and nomination form.