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AAO Policy Survey

The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) is deeply committed to patient health and safety through orthodontic care provided by qualified specialists. Our mission – to advance our members’ success through education, advocacy, and research that drive excellence in patient care—has never been more important. 

We are growing our advocacy innovation and influence on a range of policy issues through regulation and legislation at the Federal and State levels. With a few minutes of your time, you can help the Legal & Advocacy team plan for possible future work and important positions on relevant and timely issues with potential impact on our members.
 
1. Have you encountered patients who came to you to address complications resulting from prior treatment by a mail-order orthodontic services without an in-person clinical exam?
2. Approximately how many total patients have contacted you with complications needing orthodontic care from a specialist as a result of beginning treatment without an in-person exam or seeking treatment from a direct-to-consumer company?
 
2. How often are you contacted by new patients with adverse outcomes from using a direct-to-consumer company for their orthodontic treatment?
3. Do you offer payment plans for orthodontic treatment?
4. Do patients who take advantage of your payment plans pay any additional fees for their orthodontic treatment, including through interest, financing fees, or administrative fees associated with the payment plans (not including fees for late payments)? 
4. What is the patient’s payment plan interest rate or average financing mark-up in relation to what a patient would pay if paid to a zero balance at the time treatment is completed?
 
4. What percentage of your patients use this payment program?
 
4. Please rank the most important issues that AAO should be working on in the next two years.
  Order the items from the following list. First select an item with the spacebar to show a menu of possible ranking positions. Next, click a ranking position to order it in the ranked list. Note the menu will display more ordering options as you add items to the ranked list.
Occupational licensure compacts create reciprocity between states while working to maintain the quality and safety of services and protecting state sovereignty. Compacts can result in a more efficient distribution of licensed workers and potentially address workforce shortages by supporting practitioner mobility.  They can also create negative consequences for businesses like opening the door to more competition. Efforts are underway by states to develop model legislation for interstate licensure compacts that would create reciprocity among participant states. The legislation is aimed at reducing the barriers to license portability and employment. License reciprocity in the dentistry and dental hygiene professions is included in this interstate licensure compact effort.
 
6. Please respond to the statements below.

When it comes to license reciprocity in the dental hygiene professions and dentistry (including the orthodontic specialty), I am...
 
With the consideration of trillions in spending through the Build Back Better reconciliation package, Congress has debated whether the Medicare program should expand its coverage of dental services. Currently, the Medicare program only covers certain hospital-based dental services under its Part A benefit, which tend to be emergency in nature.

While expanded Medicare coverage of dental services will primarily affect general dental practitioners, it could also have impacts on orthodontists. These impacts relate to payment policies, reporting requirements, and other compliance issues. Given the impact of this proposed new benefit coverage, AAO is soliciting your feedback on how you (as a practicing orthodontist) would view this change. This feedback will help inform the AAO’s advocacy strategy and ensure that the interests of orthodontists are adequately represented in Medicare policy debates.
 
8. Please respond to the statements below.

When it comes to expanding Medicare coverage of dental services, from the perspective of my orthodontic practice, I am...
 
9. Do you treat patients covered by Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage?
10. Which of the following most accurately describes the location at which you see Medicare patients?
Medicaid is a government insurance program for some low-income people, families and children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with disabilities. In some states the program covers all low-income adults below a certain income level. Another legislative proposal that has been floated in the U.S. Congress, though not for the reconciliation package that is currently under discussion, is increasing the Medicaid Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) for dental services. 
 
12. Does your office participate in your state Medicaid program?
13. When it comes to Medicaid expanding coverage of dental services, from the perspective of my orthodontic practice, I am...
15. AAO members share their stories to influence policies that impact our members, specialty, and patient health and well-being. How do you want to use your voice for policy change knowing AAO will help prepare you and support all these efforts? Check all that apply.
 
All Optional Questions: This information will not be shared outside of the American Association of Orthodontists.  Your cell number and/or e-mail address are important to help activate your grassroots engagement for advocacy.
 
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