AGD’s annual Hill Day takes place today and tomorrow in the nation’s capital. More than 40 general dentists and dental students will interact with national health officials and congressional leaders to address issues related to oral health and the dental profession. Here are some of the areas of focus:

• The Oral Health Literacy bill (H.R. 994/S. 403) that authorizes $750,000 per year for five years to fund HRSA’s oral health education campaign. AGD leaders will be asking legislators to co-sponsor this important legislation. This is an increase from the Omnibus Appropriations Bill that was passed in Dec. 2020 that appropriated $300,000 for this initiative.
• AGD is asking legislators to co-sponsor the SMILED (Strengthening Medicaid Incentives for Licensees Enrolled in Dental) Act (H.R. 1422) to reduce administrative burdens for dentists by simplifying credentialing so that dentists can reduce the time involved in becoming Medicaid providers. In addition, the legislation would reduce unfair Medicaid audits.
• Leaders will be asking Congress to urge the Department of Justice to use the power handed to them by CHIRA (Competitive Health Insurance Reform Act of 2020) that eliminated the exemption from antitrust laws that health insurers enjoyed under the McCarran-Ferguson Act.

Watch for further updates and outcomes from these sessions, and check the AGD Advocacy Center for ways to get involved.