AGD Capitol Connections

The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) posted revisions on September 11 to regulations that implemented the paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave provisions of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA).

AGD submitted comments to the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) on September 18 regarding a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) Scoring Criteria Request for Information (RFI).

On September 16, the Businesses Preparing for a Better Tomorrow Act (H.R. 8260) was introduced by Rep. Pete Olson (R-TX) to help employers combat the spread of COVID-19 by providing tax incentives for qualified employee training on best practices to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

On September 10, a Senate GOP pandemic relief package (S. 178) was blocked by Democrats in a 52 to 47 vote short of the 60 needed to advance the legislation for floor debate.

The House of Representatives voted this week to pass the Competitive Health Insurance Reform Act (H.R. 1418), a bill to repeal the antiquated McCarran-Ferguson antitrust exemption granted to the health insurance industry decades ago.

The AGD has worked diligently with constituents to help address issues during the COVID-19 emergency. This has included providing resources, creating state-specific action alerts and helping compose and send letters to government entities that express concerns of general dentists within their state.

On September 3, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released the Rural Action Plan, following an August 3 executive order requesting that the HHS produce a report on existing and upcoming efforts to improve rural healthcare.

On September 9, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce held a markup session for 38 pieces of legislation, including H.R. 1379, the Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act (ELSA).

In a September 8 letter to lead sponsors, AGD endorsed H.R. 7671, the Small Business Comeback Act. H.R. 7671 calls for the establishment of a Small Business Recovery Fund to help American businesses who have been negatively impacted by COVID-19.

AGD submitted comments on September 4 to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) in response to their Discussion Draft of the Preliminary Framework for Equitable Allocation of COVID-19 Vaccine (2020).

AGD President, Dr. Connie White, DDS, FAGD, sent a letter on August 27 to the Acting Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Division of Oral Health advocating for a return to May 2020 guidance language on N95 masks in its “Interim Infection Prevention and Control Guidance for Dental Settings During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic.

The AGD and Wisconsin AGD sent a letter to the City of Madison Water Utility Board in advance of their August 25 meeting, and in support of community water fluoridation (CFW).

On August 18, the HHS Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP) released Healthy People 2030 (HP2030) – the 5th version of the Healthy People initiative.

The House Energy & Commerce Committee sent oversight letters to nine health and dental insurance companies on August 13, seeking information on their policies and practices amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The National Association of Dental Plans (NADP) responded to AGD’s letter sent on July 7, and welcomed open communications between the organizations.

On August 13, AGD sent a letter to Reps. Cindy Axne (R-IA) and Neal Dunn (R-FL) expressing support for their recently introduced legislation, the Eliminating the Provider Relief Fund Tax Penalties Act of 2020 (H.R.7819).

Governor Chris Sununu recently signed HB 1639 into law: legislation that addresses non-covered dental services, among other health care-related issues.

The U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS) once again extended the deadline for both non-Medicaid and Medicaid/CHIP dental providers to apply for distribution under the CARES Act Provider Relief Fund to August 28, 2020.

AGD joined a coalition of stakeholders in sending letters to Administration officials and Congressional leadership that outline the importance of including a "healthy workplace" tax credit in the next COVID-19 relief package.

On July 31, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to pass a second minibus FY2021 appropriations package that provided funding for Defense, Commerce-Justice-Science, Energy & Water Development, Financial Services & General Government, Labor-HHS-Education, and Transportation-HUD (H.R.7617).