NADP volunteers contribute to the success and growth of the association and industry through service to the following groups:

 

Commission on Policy Advocacy (CAP): The Commission on Advocacy Policy is responsible for 1) developing positions on industry‐related federal and state healthcare policy proposals, 2) responding to the impacts of federal healthcare policy proposals as they develop, 3) providing appropriate direction regarding advocacy positions to the Government Relations Workgroup, Exchange Workgroup, and NADP lobby resources. Staff Liaison: Bianca Balale

Communications WorkGroup develops, directs, and deploys a communications strategy to position NADP as the voice and thought leader of the dental benefits industry. Participation Standard: Accepts & completes article assignments, provides feedback on articles via conference call or Dental Interact. Staff Liaisons: Rene Chapin and Lauren Oakley

Education Commission advances NADP’s mission by providing integrated educational forums, programs, and services, which deliver value to stakeholders of the dental benefits industry. Participation Standard: Complete 80% of tasks, including speaker ratings, city selections, and participation in conferences, webinars and conference calls, etc. Staff Liaisons: Jeremy May and Shayne Leatherwood

Membership WorkGroup* (formerly Membership Committee) is accountable for increasing and retaining NADP members. Participation Standard: Attend monthly conference calls and provide updates on recruitment & retention lists – plus quarterly outreach to selected companies on both lists. Staff Liaison: Rene Chapin

NADPac Committee: NADPac is a multi-candidate, federal political action committee registered with the Federal Election Commission (FEC). Contributions to federal candidates are overseen by the NADPac Committee, which meets several times a year. The NADP Board appoints the Committee to be representative of NADP membership. Staff Liaison: Mike Adelberg

Research Commission supports NADP’s mission by gathering data and information to generate and disseminate industry knowledge. Volunteers typically are involved in their organizations’ Actuarial, Underwriting, Product Management, Provider Relations, Market Research/Competitive Intelligence, and Sales functions. Participation Standard: The voting member or alternate must attend at least one of the two in-person meetings. Staff Liaison: Jerry Berggren

Government Relations WorkGroup

The GRW implements policy positions, outlined by the Commission on Advocacy Policy (CAP), promotes consumer access to affordable quality dental care, and educates and advocates for legislative and regulatory conditions supporting the dental benefits industry. The Workgroup participates in federal and state advocacy efforts as coordinated by the Commission.

Structure:

The Government Relations Workgroup (GRW) consists of two key components: a focused working group and a comprehensive report out.

1. Working Group

    • Analyzes legislation, identifies advocacy priorities, coordinates advocacy efforts, engages advocates
    • Limited to up to three (3) participants per company
    • Substitutes allowed, but no more than three participants per call per company
    • 80% participation requirement per company
    • All members of the working group will automatically be included in the report out

2. Report Out

    • Provides updates on NADP’s government relations activities and advocacy
    • Open to any interested volunteer from an NADP member company
    • No participation limit or standard applied
    • Opportunity to raise new bills, topics, or agenda items for future meetings

For more information, please review the following:

If you have any questions, contact NADP Government Relations staff at 

Terminology, Standards & Transactions

In 2026, the Clinical SubWorkGroup divided into three Projects; AI Imaging, Dental Quality Alliance and Guideline Repository Projects.

 

The AI Imaging Project focuses on gathering information and research to educate members on the developing use of AI images and analysis to assist in the recording and processing of dental claims. Staff Liaison: Tim Brown

 

The Dental Quality Alliance (DQA) Project explores, informs, and comments on dental quality measure development and maintains NADP’s voting seat on the DQA including attendance at meetings twice a year. Staff Liaison: Tim Brown

 

The Guideline Repository Project is still under development to potentially review and assess clinical guidelines published by sources other than NADP for their efficacy and application to the dental benefits industry. Staff Liaison: Tim Brown

 

The Codes SubWorkGroup (SWG) is tasked with developing, reviewing and advocating for or against submitted revisions to the ADA’s Current Dental Terminology (CDT) as part of the annual Code Maintenance Committee (CMC) process. The leadership of the Codes SWG are NADP’s representatives to the CMC annual meeting. Membership on the Codes SWG is limited to approximately 30 members and only two representatives from a member company. SWG members must have direct clinical knowledge and expertise with the CDT and dental claims processing. Staff Liaison: Tim Brown

Diagnostic Terminology SWG develops, reviews, and comments on proposed changes to diagnosis and reporting code set; supports NADP voting seats on SNOMED Dentistry Clinical Reference Group in developing dental diagnostic terminology. Staff Liaison: Tim Brown

EDI WorkGroup reviews and comments on mandated EDI transactions for claims processing, electronic funds transfer, and electronic health records; develop, review and comment on changes and updates in required EDI transactions on behalf of the dental benefits industry; liaisons with other state and national organizations engaged in the EDI arena; provides support for NADP voting seats on Dental Content Committee (DCC), Health Level 7 (HL7), Standards Committee on Dental Informatics (SCDI), and American National Standards Institute X12 (X12) including leadership positions on WEDI Dental Workgroup and X12 Dental Caucus. Participation Standard: 80% participation standard by the company. “Participation” is defined as a conference call and in-person meeting attendance, information sharing via Dental Interact (DI) or email to staff, and participation in separate projects. Staff Liaison: Lauren Gritzer

Operations WorkGroup develops, reviews, and comments on proposals for dental plan accreditation with accreditation organizations and federal representatives; develops, thoughts, and comments on proposals for uniform credentialing within dental benefits organizations and outside vendors; serves as liaison to dental service organizations (DSOs) and the Dental Group Practice Association (DGPA) on initiatives of interest to both including credentialing, onboarding and data sharing. Participation Standard: 80% participation standard by the company. “Participation” is defined as a conference call and in-person meeting attendance, information sharing via Dental Interact (DI) or email to staff, and participation in separate projects. Staff Liaison: Lauren Gritzer

Future of Dental Care Access Task Force

The NADP Board appoints dental plan members only to the Future of Dental Care Access Task Force as needed. Seats are limited. Staff Liaison: Mike Adelberg