AGD Capitol Connections

On February 25, 2025, the House of Representatives passed a budget resolution in a 217-215 vote. Unlike the Senate’s two reconciliation bill approach with their first bill focusing on border security, defense and energy policies, the House is pursuing a single reconciliation bill approach.

On February 25, 2025, the White House issued an EO entitled, “Making America Healthy Again by Empowering Patients with Clear, Accurate, and Actionable Healthcare Pricing Information.”

Advocacy doesn’t just happen in Washington, DC or in your state capital. This week U.S. Representatives and Senators are home for Presidents’ Day recess. During this week they will be meeting with their constituents just like yourself.

On February 13, 2025, the Senate voted to confirm Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), by a vote of 52-48. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) was the lone Republican to vote against Mr. Kennedy’s confirmation, in addition to every Democratic Senator.

On January 27, 2025, the Trump Administration, through the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB), released a memorandum entitled, Temporary Pause of Agency Grant, Loan, and Other Financial Assistance Programs to the heads of executive departments and agencies.

On January 29 and 30th, 2025, the Senate Finance and Senate Health, Education, Labor, & Pensions (HELP) Committees respectively held confirmation hearings for Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) nominee Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

On January 15, 2025, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) released a proposed rule establishing a framework for practitioners to prescribe Schedule II-V controlled substances via telemedicine without a prior in-person medical evaluation entitled, Telemedicine Prescribing of Controlled Substances When the Practitioner and the Patient Have Not Had a Prior In-Person Medical Evaluation.

On January 7, 2025, Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID) was named Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee for the 119th Congress, a key position overseeing more than 50 percent of federal spending with jurisdiction over federal tax policy; federal social safety net and health care programs, including Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid; and implementation of foreign trade agreements.

On January 20th Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th President of the United States, beginning his second term. Shortly after taking office, President Trump signed a multitude of executive orders and national proclamations, including actions to strengthen border security, increase domestic energy production, and reduce the size of the federal workforce.

On January 6, 2025, JAMA Pediatrics released a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis entitled, Fluoride Exposure and Children’s IQ Scores. This review of 74 international studies on the effects of fluoridation in water concluded that most of the studies associated drops in children’s IQ with increasing levels of fluoridation in water.

On December 20, 2024, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a short-term continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government at Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 levels through March 14, 2025.

The AGD Advocacy Fund supports national and constituent advocacy efforts by providing resources to tackle new matters, such as legislation or legal action affecting the practice of general dentistry.

In 2025, all fifty state legislatures will be in session. Montana, Nevada, North Dakota and Texas only meet in odd-numbered years. The 2024 election resulted in only a small change in partisan control in the state capitols.

On November 22, 2024, Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA), current Ranking Member and expected Chairman next Congress of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, introduced the Health Care Cybersecurity and Resiliency Act of 2024, which would strengthen cybersecurity requirements in the health care sector.

President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Dr. Mehmet Oz to be Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Dr. Oz, a physician and former television personality, is expected to bring a focus on preventive health and holistic care to CMS if confirmed.

President-elect Donald Trump has officially nominated Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as HHS Secretary. Kennedy, an environmental advocate with well-known suspicions regarding vaccine safety and efficacy, has called for increased transparency and restructuring of federal health agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Join this free, two-half day virtual event to gain insights into the current legislative and regulatory landscape and how they are affecting your practice or could in the future. Hear from AGD leaders on issues they are tracking and learn how you can make a difference at the state and federal levels.

On October 18, 2024, Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden (D-OR) sent a letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure and Deputy Administrator Dan Tsai urging the agency to address the critical shortage of addiction medicine specialists in the U.S. to improve access to substance use disorder (SUD) services for Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) patients, particularly in rural and underserved areas.

On October 30, 2024, the AGD sent a letter to House and Senate Leadership of the Appropriations Subcommittees on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies, including House Subcommittee Chair Robert Aderholt (R-AL), Senate Subcommittee Chair Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), House Subcommittee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), and Senate Subcommittee Ranking Member Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV).

On October 10, 2024, Premier Inc. released survey data indicating that more than 86 percent of providers are facing an IV fluid shortage, with over half of respondents possessing a 10-day supply or less.