AGD Supports Legislation Reintroduced to Address Noncovered Services Issue
AGD sent letters of support to the House and Senate sponsors of the DOC Access Act on May 26, thanking them for taking the lead on this critical piece of legislation.
AGD Supports FSA Improvement Legislation
The AGD sent a letter of support to the sponsors of the Responsible Additions and Increases to Sustain Employee (RAISE) Health Benefits Act on May 10.
OSHA's COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard Expected Very Soon
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has sent its COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs for review, a step before the ETS is made public.
AGD-Backed Coalition Calls for Release of 2020 Surgeon General Report on Oral Health
AGD, along with allies from organized dentistry and other health stakeholders, sent a letter that was spearheaded by the American Association for Dental Research (AADR) to Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, M.D. on May 5, requesting a quick release of the pending 2020 Surgeon General's Report on Oral Health.
AGD Joins Coalition to Urge President Biden to Support Healthy Workplace Tax Credit
On May 5, AGD signed on to a letter along with a coalition of organizations and businesses representing millions of employees urging President Biden and his administration to support the bipartisan Healthy Workplaces Tax Credit Act (S.537/H.R.1944) to protect the safety of workers, customers and the public. The bipartisan bill would create a tax credit for qualified expenses that help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace.
FDA Announces Plan to Ban Menthol Cigarettes and Flavored Cigars
On April 29, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it would be advancing two tobacco product standards to significantly reduce disease and death from using combusted tobacco products, the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S.
IRS Provides Safe Harbor Tax Guidance on PPP Loan Business Expense Deductions
The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued Revenue Procedure 2021-20 PDF on April 22 for certain businesses that received first-round Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans but did not deduct any of the original eligible expenses because they relied on guidance issued before the enactment of tax relief legislation in December of 2020.
Congressional Democrats Push Biden to Include Medicare Expansion in Relief Plan
President Joe Biden detailed his "American Families Plan" (fact sheet) in a speech to Congress on Wednesday, April 28. The President's plan will seek to expand federal support for lower-income and middle-class Americans, offset by a series of tax increases on wealthy Americans' incomes, investments, and estates.
Drug Pricing Reform Measure Reintroduced in House
On April 22, the House Democratic leaders reintroduced H.R. 3, the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act. The legislation would allow the federal government to negotiate the cost of prescription drugs and cap seniors' out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs at $2,000 per year.
House Committee Plans Hearing on Anticompetitive Practices in Health Care Markets
On April 29, the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial, and Administrative Law is holding a hearing at 1:00 pm (ET) entitled "Treating the Problem: Addressing Anticompetitive Conduct and Consolidation in Health Care Markets."
AGD Congratulates Asst. Health Secretary Levine on Senate Confirmation
On March 30, AGD sent a letter to Rachel L. Levine, M.D. congratulating her on being confirmed by the Senate to serve as the 17th Assistant Secretary for Health for the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.
Progressives Call for Medicare Dental Expansion in American Jobs Plan
On April 9, the nearly 100-member Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) announced five key policy recommendations the lawmaker group is advocating to be included in President Biden’s proposed American Jobs Plan.
House to Vote on Healthcare Workplace Violence Legislation
The U.S. House of Representatives is set to vote on and pass the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act (H.R.1195). The legislation directs OSHA to issue a safety and health standard that would require certain health care and social service sector employers to implement workplace violence prevention plans.
AGD and Organized Dentistry Coalition Support Bill to Improve Dental Coverage for Vulnerable Children
AGD and other members of the Organized Dentistry Coalition recently sent a letter of support to Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) for the Ensuring Kids Have Access to Medically Necessary Dental Care Act (S.448).
AGD Urges Appropriations Committees to Increase Funding to Fight Tobacco-Use
AGD joined allies in sending letters to the leaders of the House and Senate subcommittees that allocate funding for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), calling for $310 million in funding in FY2022 for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Office on Smoking and Health (OSH).
AGD Congratulates U.S. Surgeon General Murthy on Senate Confirmation
On March 24, AGD sent a letter to Vice Admiral Vivek H. Murthy, M.D., MBA, congratulating him on being confirmed by the Senate to serve as the 21st Surgeon General of the United States.
AGD Issues Support for Legislation to Improve Medicaid Dental Care for Foster Youth
AGD sent a letter of support to Representative Karen Bass (D-CA) on March 25 for her bipartisan legislation, the Foster Youth Dental Act of 2021 (H.R.1794).
Senator Calls for Medicare Dental Benefit to be Included in Infrastructure Package
Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) told reporters on March 26 that he is urging the Administration and his Democratic colleagues in Congress to include a massive expansion of the Medicare program as part of a sweeping infrastructure package Democrats are currently developing.
Lawmakers Reintroduce Bill to Protect Patients with Congenital Anomalies
On March 16, Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Representatives Anna Eshoo (R-CA) and Drew Ferguson, D.M.D. (R-GA) reintroduced ELSA, the Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act (H.R.1916/S.754).
Senators Introduce Bill to Expand Dental Coverage for Pregnant and Postpartum Women
U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Ben Cardin (D-MD), and Cory Booker (D-NJ) recently introduced the Oral Health for Moms Act (S.560).