ASDA supports the Resident Education Deferred Interest (REDI) Act
ASDA, along with 28 other organizations, was listed as a supporting organization in a press release for the re-introduction of the Resident Education Deferred Interest (REDI) Act. The Act was introduced to Congress on June 24 by Rep. Brian Babin (R-Texas) and Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.).
This bill (H.R. 4122) would allow medical and dental residents to defer their student loans, interest-free, during residency-saving residents a significant amount of money in the long run.
Why is this important? ASDA supported this bill in the past where it gained significant support in Congress, but did not make it out of committee for a vote. Lawmakers understand the need to address the burden of student debt, which is why they re-introduced the bill. ASDA advocates for various measures that address the growing student debt crisis, as outlined in the F-4 Student Debt policy.
ASDA, along with 14 other organizations, sent a letter thanking Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.) for introducing this bipartisan legislation.
This bill addresses the growing chasm in oral care that former foster youth experience. It expands Medicaid oral health coverage by increasing the eligibility age from 21 to 25 years old for eligible patients. The bill also enhances outreach efforts to enroll former foster youth in Medicaid services and protects their existing dental health insurance.
Why is this important?ASDA's H-2 policy supports evidence-based solutions, including Medicaid expansion, as a way to address barriers to care issues. Some private practices do not accept Medicaid patients because they are not as profitable as other patients. This bill provides financial incentives for practitioners to accept Medicaid patients by making the reimbursement rate more competitive.
July Advocacy Brief Challenge
Email us a picture of your completed crossword puzzle and earn a point in the Advocacy Certificate Program! Did you miss last month's cryptogram puzzle? Go back to June's issue of Advocacy Brief and send your answer to advocacydept@ASDAnet.org to earn a point in the program. One point maximum.
FROM Washington
SAVE Act allows dental students to permanently administer vaccines
The issue: On June 17, Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) and Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) introduced the Student Assisted Vaccination Effort (SAVE) Act. The bill would permanently allow more than one million students in dental, medical, nursing, pharmacy and other health professions to administer vaccines during federally declared public health emergencies. This bill adds to the amendment of the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act declaration announced by the White House on March 12.
Why is this important? ASDA's H-11 policy supports the ADA Policy on Vaccine Administration. ASDA encourages dental schools to incorporate vaccine administration into their curricula, and to administer vaccinations in clinical settings when appropriate.
FROM the States
Texas passes teledentistry legislation
The issue: Gov. Greg Abbott (R) signed a bill that would add the definition of teledentistry into the state's telehealth laws. The bill would require private insurers to provide the same coverage and require dentists be reimbursed at the same rate for a teledentistry visits as they would for in-person visits.
Why is this important? Several states have addressed defining teledentistry within their dental practice acts. New Mexico, North Dakota and Maine have adopted teledentistry legislation this year. llinois, North Carolina and South Carolina have bills moving through the legislative process.
As listed in ASDA's B-14 policy, the association encourages dental schools to incorporate teledentistry into their respective didactic curricula and to utilize teledentistry in clinical settings when appropriate.
Teledentistry experts educate ASDA members
Near the end of 2020, ASDA hosted a webinar discussing where teledentistry is headed and its critical role in dental outreach. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we saw a societal shift to the digital world. Be sure to watch the recording of this relevant webinar to learn more about a method of care that you will surely encounter as future dentists.
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.
