ADA SPA program provides lobbying, public relations resources

In 2025, the New York State Dental Association, or NYSDA, secured several significant legislative and regulatory victories that address long-standing concerns for dentists while supporting patient access to care and strengthening the oral health workforce. The achievements were the result of coordinated advocacy by organized dentistry, with NYSDA leading the charge and the ADA providing financial and strategic support. 

“These successes reflect sustained efforts to promote fair reimbursement, strengthen the dental workforce, and expand access to care,” said Maurice Edwards, D.M.D., president of the New York State Dental Association. 

Among the most notable developments is the enactment of virtual credit card legislation, signed into law after years of advocacy and negotiation. The law addresses the growing use of forced electronic payment methods by insurers, which had resulted in transaction fees that reduced dentists’ net reimbursement and significantly increased the workload for dental offices. Practices often received lump-sum payments covering multiple patients and claims, placing an administrative burden on staff. The new law helps dentists control their practice operations. Insurers now must gain dentists’ permission before using virtual credit cards, or any electronic funds transfer payment method that imposes fees, to reimburse dentists.  It also protects a dentist’s choice of preferred payment methods, which remains unchanged unless the dentist chooses to change it.  

The final legislation required careful coordination to ensure compliance with New York’s prompt claims payment law, including agreement on a chapter amendment. Support from the ADA’s State Public Affairs grant program played a key role by providing lobbying and public relations resources, and several New York legislators who are active members of the National Council of Insurance Legislators were supportive of the underlying policy concept. Broader acceptance of the issue helped facilitate negotiations, Dr. Edwards noted, including discussions with the governor’s office.  

“While this is not the first insurance-related victory in New York, it represents one of the first successful reforms in a long time addressing modern insurance practices that were not ultimately vetoed by a governor,” Dr. Edwards said. 

Another major win came with the long-awaited update to the Workers’ Compensation Dental Fee Schedule. Dental fees under the program had not been adjusted since 2009, discouraging many dentists from treating injured workers. After more than a decade of advocacy by NYSDA, the New York State Workers’ Compensation Board implemented an update in November 2025. The New York State Department of Financial Services subsequently adopted the revised schedule for no-fault dental claims, a change expected to improve participation and access to care statewide. 

Workforce development also advanced with the inclusion of dental hygiene programs in SUNY Reconnect, a tuition-free initiative for adults ages 25 to 55 pursuing associate degrees. Additionally, New York enacted collaborative dental hygiene practice legislation allowing hygienists to work with dentists outside traditional hospital settings. The change is designed to expand preventive care in underserved communities while maintaining dentist oversight. 

“Together, these wins demonstrate the value of organized dentistry and NYSDA’s role in advancing policies that support dentists, strengthen the workforce, and improve access to care for New Yorkers,” Dr. Edwards said. 

For more information on dental insurance reform, visit ADA.org/DIR or this article recapping dental insurance reform wins in 2025.