Effective July 1, Medicaid-enrolled adults, ages 21 and over, will have comprehensive dental benefits through the Virginia Smiles for Children program for the first time in Virginia. For more information for providers, patients and community partners, please visit Virginia Health Catalyst. To view the VDHA Frequently Asked Questions document specifically for dental hygienists, click here.
As Vaccinations Rise, Governor Northam Announces Expanded Capacity, Social Gathering Limits to Begin May 15: More than half of all adults in Virginia have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Governor Northam made the announcement in a new video message.
The General Assembly passed emergency legislation to expand the pool of COVID-19 vaccinators in Virginia. The Governor signed the legislation on February 15, 2021, when it became effective immediately.
VHDA will continue to update members as information becomes available.
We have received additional clarifying information from the Administration as of 2/19/21.
The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) Vaccine Provider Intent Form referenced in our previous alert is designed for practices and offices that are interested in receiving and administering the COVID-19 vaccine when available.
Individual healthcare professionals interested in being able to administer the vaccine can do the following, while the new vaccinator program and all the registration, training, and supervisory details are still being determined:
You may also choose to wait until the new vaccinator program is established.
Recently, VDHA and the Virginia Dental Association sent a jointly signed letter to our Governor, outlining our position on the state's COVID-19 vaccination plan. In short, we asked that the state exercise its authority to call on dental hygienists as "non-traditional vaccinators" as an emergency measure, as we are eager to help with the rollout and administration of this important health care service.
Please read the letter for yourself. Thank you for your continued efforts to keep Virginians healthy and safe.
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Dear VDHA Members,
VDHA and VDA have worked together to create and co-brand a revised "Interim Guidelines to Practicing Dentistry During COVID-19". Please download and refer to this document as you safely return to work, and share this important information with your practices and colleagues.
VDHA is working for you and with you through these unprecedented times.
Be well and stay safe,
Tracey Martin, RDH, BSDH
VDHA President
Greetings VDHA members, Please download this summary document from the VDHA lobbyist company, Commonwealth Strategy Group. Our lobbyists have been providing our leadership team with updates after every address by the Governor, and we would like to share them as we receive them. As some of you may already know, the Governor has been providing regular updates throughout the pandemic on Monday/Wednesday/Friday afternoons. These documents summarize all information presented during these updates. I hope you will find this helpful as a reference guide. Thank you for your continued support and membership! Tracey C. Martin, RDH, BSDH VDHA President |
Greetings VDHA members, Please download this summary document from the VDHA lobbyist company, Commonwealth Strategy Group. Our lobbyists have been providing our leadership team with updates after every address by the Governor, and we would like to share them as we receive them. As some of you may already know, the Governor has been providing regular updates throughout the pandemic on Monday/Wednesday/Friday afternoons. These documents summarize all information presented during these updates. I hope you will find this helpful as a reference guide. Thank you for your continued support and membership! Tracey C. Martin, RDH, BSDH VDHA President |
Greetings VDHA members, Please download this summary document from the VDHA lobbyist company, Commonwealth Strategy Group. Our lobbyists have been providing our leadership team with updates after every address by the Governor, and we would like to share them as we receive them. As some of you may already know, the Governor has been providing regular updates throughout the pandemic on Monday/Wednesday/Friday afternoons. These documents summarize all information presented during these updates. I hope you will find this helpful as a reference guide. Thank you for your continued support and membership! Tracey C. Martin, RDH, BSDH VDHA President |
ADHA_TaskForceReport.pdf
ADA_Return_to_Work_Toolkit.pdf
EO-60-Clarification-of-Certain-Immunity-From-Liability-For-Healthcare-Providers-in-Response-to-Novel-Coronavirus-(COVID-19).pdf
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/dental-settings.html
https://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2020-archive/april/ada-advises-dentists-to-follow-science-backed-guidance-regarding-covid-19-testing
Dear Members,
In the past month the VDHA team has been working diligently to support you and the profession of dental hygiene during this COVID-19 pandemic.
In an effort to continue this work, we want to encourage all of you to send emails to the Governor of Virginia via the link at https://www.votervoice.net/ADHA/campaigns/72583/respond When they say there is power in numbers, this is our time to shine and let the Governor know our concerns collectively. You will see there is a pre-written section, and separate message body. We encourage you to be specific about your concerns and adjust each section as necessary, whether it be proper PPE guidelines, availability of PPE, safety of patient or clinician in providing care, etc. With the state authorities reporting that Virginia has not reached the peak yet and may not by the end of April, this puts dental hygienists everywhere at risk if returning to work after April 24th.
You may also email the Director of the Virginia Department of Health Professions, Dr. David Brown at David.Brown@dhp.virginia.gov, to share your concerns and encourage government officials to extend the deadline of April 24th in order to protect the health of the public and dental healthcare providers across the state.
In addition, if there are offices still providing non-emergency care at this time, VDHA encourages you all to use the resources we have previously sent. The local police or sheriff's department can be contacted, and in addition you may file a complaint to the Virginia Board of Dentistry directly at https://www.dhp.virginia.gov/PractitionerResources/Enforcement/FileaComplaint/or anonymously about the office you are concerned about.
Finally I want thank you to all of you who have reached out during this difficult time with concerns, questions, and kind words. I have never been more proud to represent all of you, and VDHA will continue to work adamantly for all dental hygienists.
Sincerely and respectfully,
Emilie M. Bonovitch, BS Biology, BSDH, RDH
VDHA President 2018-2020
VCU Adjunct Clinical Faculty