From ASDA

Webinar will teach the ABCs of Advocacy

Join us November 10 at 7pm Central to understand just how easy it is to get involved with ASDA advocacy. In some cases, it only takes 60 seconds! You will walk away feeling empowered and equipped with the tools to get started advocating for the dental profession today.

And remember, if you joined us last month for the webinar on Current Legislative Updates (watch the recording here), or will be attending this webinar, you earn a point in the Advocacy Certificate Program for every webinar you attend. Submit your points here.

Sneak peek: Advocacy Month challenges and text alerts

Advocacy Month will be filled with challenges that rely on you receiving our texts. Increase your chances of winning by signing up today!

Between October 1-31, the chapter that gets the most members signed up for texts and creates a video or reel promoting ASDA Action will win $300 for your next advocacy event. Videos must:

Be no longer than 60 seconds.
Include the link to sign up for ASDA Action text alerts.
Tag @dentalstudents

ASDA joins coalition supporting oral health literacy

ASDA, along with 18 other organizations, sent a letter to Senators Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM) and Susan Collins (R-ME) thanking them for introducing the Oral Health Literacy and Awareness Act of 2022 in the Senate. This bill would authorize the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to establish an evidence-based education campaign to promote oral health literacy among the at-risk populations served by HRSA programs. Last year, a companion bill* H.R. 4555 passed the House of Representatives by a 369-58 vote with significant bipartisan support.

*What is a companion bill? A companion bill is a bill introduced with the same, or similar, language in both the House and the Senate.

Why does it matter? ASDA’s B-11 policy supports efforts to improve oral health literacy and encourages incorporating this language into CODA accreditation standards related to prevention and public health.

From Washington

Midterm elections are 3 weeks away

Election Day is November 8. Midterm elections – so called because they come at the midpoint of a president’s term, can have a significant impact on the direction of the country. Every seat in the House of Representatives is up for election, and so are 35 Senate seats and 36 governorships. Check out ASDA Action’s Scorecard to learn how your elected officials have supported and voted on issues important to ASDA and organized dentistry.

Make sure you’re ready for the election with these 3 tips:

Make sure you’re registered to vote - Did you recently move to a new address? Did you get married and change your name? Or if you haven’t voted in the last four years, you’ll need to re-register to vote. Often, you must register days or weeks before the election. Deadlines vary by state. Check out Vote Smart to find your state’s voter registration deadline.
Learn who’s running - There are several other races this November for positions like secretary of state, state attorney general, and various other state and municipal positions. Use ASDA Action’s Candidates feature or Ballotpedia to view your candidates on the ballot.
Find your polling location - If you want to skip the lines on Election Day, see if you can vote early or vote by mail. If you are excited to head to the polls, be sure to find your polling location and make a plan for how you will get there.

Some borrowers may get refunds on student loan payments

As reported in the September issue of Advocacy Brief, the White House recently announced a plan to relieve up to $10,000 or $20,000 in student debt for qualifying borrowers. The ED now also reports that borrowers who made voluntary payments during the pandemic payment freeze that reduced their new debt total below the forgiveness limit of $10,000 or $20,000 may receive refunds.

The Department of Education (ED) is expected to release the online application soon. As of October 11, the application is not yet available. To be notified when new information becomes available, sign up at the Department of Education subscription page.

Why does it matter? The average graduating dental student is starting their career as a new dentist owing nearly $305,000 in educational debt. ASDA’s F-4 policy supports initiatives to reduce the burden of debt for dental students.

Millions who gained Medicaid coverage during pandemic at risk of losing it

Early in the pandemic, Congress enacted the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. This Act required Medicaid programs keep people continuously enrolled through the month in which the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) ends. This resulted in Medicaid enrollment growing substantially compared to before the pandemic. Total Medicaid/CHIP enrollment swarmed to 89 million in May 2022, an increase of 17.7 million (nearly 25%) from February 2020. However, some 15 million people are at risk of losing coverage when the PHE ends. The current PHE is set to expire mid-October. However, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has promised states a 60-days’ notice before it ends. With no current notice from HHS, the current PHE is expected to be renewed again at least through January 2023.

Why does it matter? Right now, there is no federal requirement to provide adult Medicaid enrollees with dental coverage. Each state gets to choose whether to provide dental benefits to adults. There is a bill in both the House and Senate right now that would require all states provide comprehensive adult dental benefits. You can help push this issue forward by sending a letter on ASDA Action urging your legislator support the Medicaid Dental Benefit Act today.

From the States

Dental hygienists to provide services in specified California facilities

On Aug. 22, California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed a bill that clarifies registered dental hygienists in alternative practice (RDHAP) are permitted to provide dental hygiene services to patients in a long-term health care facility, as well as oral health training to staff in these facilities. RDHAPs are a dental auxiliary similar to dental hygienists, but provide preventive care to patients in their location such as nursing homes, schools, residential care facilities, etc.

According to statements from the bill sponsor, California’s dental practice act allows RDHAPs to provide dental services in numerous settings. However, recently, some long-term care facilities have prevented RDHAPs from providing care to patients. These facilities cited a lack of specific inclusion of RDHAPs as practitioners authorized to provide oral health care.

Federal Judge Reinstates Work Requirement in Georgia’s Partial Medicaid Expansion Proposal

A federal judge has ruled that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) violated federal law in revoking a work requirement that was part of Georgia’s partial Medicaid expansion proposal.

The Trump Administration approved Section 1115 demonstration waivers that, among offering states flexibility to test new approaches in how they operate their programs, imposed work and reporting requirements as a condition of Medicaid eligibly. Similar work requirements have been struck down by federal courts and in other states.

However, Judge Lisa Godby Wood stated the decision by CMS was “arbitrary and capricious,” as the agency failed to explain its decision. She also stated that CMS measured Georgia’s proposal against full Medicaid expansion, rather than measuring against Georgia’s partial expansion proposal.

Georgia’s initial waiver request was approved by CMS in the final days of the Trump administration, but that decision was reversed by the Biden administration in December 2021.

Contact advocacydept@ASDAnet.org with questions.

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