FROM ASDA
ASDA, along with 12 other organizations, was listed as a supporting organization for the Oral Health Literacy and Awareness Act (H.R. 4555) that was recently re-introduced to Congress. This bill authorizes up to $750,000 a year for the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to develop and implement an oral health literacy initiative across the agency.

ASDA supported this bill in a previous session of Congress where it did not receive a vote.

As dental students, we believe oral health literacy is the foundation of a lifetime of wellness and a cornerstone of improving utilization of care by underserved populations.
Advocacy 101

Are you up to speed on the Congressional, licensure and COVID-19 updates of 2021? Watch this update from Council on Advocacy Legislative Coordinator, Jacob Graca.

August challenge
The first five people to email advocacydept@ASDAnet.org with the correct answer to the following trivia question will win a gift card!

What are the six states that now accept the DLOSCE as an alternative to the live-patient clinical licensure examination?
FROM Washington
House passes dental related appropriations bill

The issue: On July 29, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 4502 containing appropriations for the Departments of Health and Human Services and Education. Please see a breakdown of funding for relevant programs below:
  • $42,673,000 for HRSA Title VII Oral Health Training Program: Authorizes programs to support and develop general education and training programs, pediatric and public health dentistry including programs for student financial assistance, traineeships, faculty development and pre and post-doctoral training; as well as the establishment or operation of a faculty loan repayment program.
  • $20,500,000 for Health Careers Opportunity Program: Assists individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds to enter a health profession through the development of academies that will support and guide them through the educational pipeline. 
  • $519,010,000 for National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR): Improves dental, oral and craniofacial health through research.

Did you know that the appropriations (or, funding) process is an annual event? Congress is tasked with producing a budget resolution (total level of funding) and 12 separate appropriations bills (program-by-program funding levels) for each federal fiscal year, which begins every October 1. See below for details.

The appropriations process:
  • The process begins when the President presents their budget request to Congress, usually early February. 
  • Once the total level of funding has been determined, the process moves into 12 separate bills.
  • Then it can break down into appropriations subcommittees of both the House and Senate.
  • The 12 bills will continue working their way through the process until the final step when all chamber members get to vote on it.
House introduces bill to add a dental benefit to Medicare
On July 6, Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) introduced the Medicare Dental, Vision, and Hearing Benefit Act. The bill would include dental, vision and hearing coverage in Medicare. Currently, dental benefits are not part of the traditional Medicare program. A provision in the Medicare statute prohibits payment for "services in connection with the care, treatment, filling, removal or replacement of teeth or structures directly supporting the teeth."

The bill would revamp Medicare benefits to include items and services such as dentures, preventative and emergency dental care, and would provide payment to dental providers through Medicare Part B. Democratic senators are working on a similar package that would be introduced in the Senate.
FROM the States
Oregon governor signs bill authorizing dental therapists to practice statewide
On July 19, Oregon Governor Kate Brown signed a bill that would authorize dental therapists to practice statewide. The bill requires dental therapists to practice in dental health professional shortage areas or dedicate at least 51% of their practice to patients who represent underserved populations. Additionally, the legislation outlines the procedures therapists would be able to perform under an agreement with a licensed dentist. Prior to this bill, dental therapists were authorized to only practice in certain tribal communities.

As listed in ASDA's C-2 policy, the association believes that the dentist is the only provider that should perform diagnosis and treatment planning, prescribing work authorizations, performing surgical/irreversible dental procedures and prescribing drugs and/or other medications.
Advocacy Brief shares news about ongoing issues and legislation that are of interest to dental students and organized dentistry. Inclusion of items does not imply their adherence to ASDA policy.