AGD Capitol Connections

On September 10, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that an additional $25.5 billion in new funding would be made available through HRSA's Provider Relief Fund to health care providers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The House Ways & Means Committee and the House Energy & Commerce Committee voted on September 10 and 15 to pass portions of the Democrats' $3.5 trillion "human infrastructure" Budget Reconciliation package, the Build Back Better Act. These two Committees included a proposal to expand Medicare to include dental, vision, and hearing benefits in their portions of the package.

AGD signed on to an Organized Dentistry Coalition (ODC) letter that was sent to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) in support of H.R.1550, the Promoting Resources to Expand Vaccination, Education and New Treatments for (PREVENT) HPV Cancers Act. The letter called for the PREVENT HPV Cancers Act to be brought to the House floor for a vote and communicated the ODC’s strong support for the legislation.

On August 30, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that Dr. Natalia Chalmers, D.D.S., would be its first-ever Chief Dental Officer (CDO) in the Office of the Administrator.

On September 1, a group of 11 allied dental organizations, including AGD, ADA, and AAOMS, sent a letter to the leadership of the U.S. House and Senate, as well as relevant Congressional Committees, urging them to reconsider legislative proposals that would expand Medicare to include a dental benefit.

AGD’s President, Dr. Bruce Cassis, D.D.S., MAGD, sent a letter to every member of the U.S. House and Senate on September 7, asking them to consider the unforeseen and significant consequences of expanding Medicare to include dental benefits.

It is critical for you to register your opposition NOW with your elected officials. Urge them to consider the unforeseen and significant consequences for patients and providers that enacting an unsound policy to expand Medicare to include dental benefits may yield.

AGD submitted official comments to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) on August 20, responding to certain aspects of OSHA’s Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) for Occupational Exposure to COVID–19.

AGD joined Organized Dentistry Coalition (ODC) members in sending letters to the House and Senate sponsors of S.1178/H.R.1854, the Reserve Employers Comprehensive Relief and Uniform Incentives on Taxes (RECRUIT Act).

On August 11, AGD and the AGD Foundation sent a letter in support of H.R.1550, the Promoting Resources to Expand Vaccination, Education and New Treatments for (PREVENT) HPV Cancers Act of 2021, to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA).

Members of the U.S. House of Representatives returned to Washington D.C. on August 23 to begin considering the adoption of a budget framework that would set the stage for their $3.5 trillion social spending and tax bill, a multi-year physical infrastructure package, and a voting rights bill.

On July 19, Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-CA) introduced the Medicaid Dental Benefit Act (H.R.4439), which would require all state Medicaid programs to provide mandatory adult dental and oral health services.

The U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Committee approved the fiscal year 2022 funding legislation on July 15 for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS). As anticipated, the Committee has included funding for vital oral health-related programs and provisions in the FY2022 Labor-HHS package (H.R.4502).

The Medicare Dental, Vision, and Hearing Benefit Act (H.R.4311) from Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) and the Medicare Dental Coverage Act (H.R.4650) from Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL) were both recently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. Both bills would expand Medicare Part B coverage to include comprehensive dental and oral health services.

On July 20, Representatives Tony Cárdenas (D-CA) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) reintroduced H.R.4555, the Oral Health Literacy and Awareness Act of 2021.

A broad coalition of health stakeholders led by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids sent a letter on June 30 to the leaders of the House Committee on Appropriations urging them to oppose any efforts to weaken FDA’s authority over cigars or any other tobacco products. The coalition included AGD along with other groups like ADA, AMA, and the American Lung Association.

AGD joined a coalition of dentist and physician organizations in sending a letter thanking the sponsors of the Resident Education Deferred Interest (REDI) Act, H.R.4122. This effort was spearheaded by the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS).

Providers who received Provider Relief Fund (PRF) payments during Reporting Period 1 (April 10, 2020 – June 30, 2020) are now able to submit post-payment reporting process information through the PRF Reporting Portal. These providers have until September 10, 2021, to complete the reporting process.

On July 13, AGD advocacy leaders gathered for AGD’s 2021 Virtual Hill Day event to meet with their members of Congress and discuss AGD priority legislative issues.

The White House recently released the outline of regulatory-related actions it plans to take in the coming months within the Spring 2021 Unified Agenda.