Help Support the AGD Advocacy Fund May 8, 2024 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.
HHS Delays Ban on Menthol Cigarettes May 8, 2024 On April 26, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra released a statement delaying the finalization of a ban on menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) initially proposed a ban on menthol cigarettes on April 28, 2022, in a proposed rule entitled, Tobacco Product Standard for Menthol in Cigarettes.
House and Senate Committees Question UnitedHealth Group CEO on Change Healthcare Cyberattack May 8, 2024 On May 1, 2024, the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance held a hearing entitled, Hacking America’s Health Care: Assessing the Change Healthcare Cyber Attack and What’s Next. Additionally, the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce (E&C) Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee held a hearing entitled, Examining the Change Healthcare Cyberattack.
Interstate Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact is Formed Apr 24, 2024 On April 22nd Maine Governor Janet Mills signed legislation creating the Interstate Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact. The Compact became active when the seventh state enacted the Compact language. Maine joined Washington, Iowa, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Virginia and Kansas as initial Compact states.
Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA-5) and Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) Release Comprehensive Data Privacy Draft Bill Apr 24, 2024 On April 7, 2024, House Committee on Energy and Commerce Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA-5) and Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation Chair Maria Cantwell (D-WA) released a discussion draft of federal privacy legislation, entitled the American Privacy Rights Act.
CMS Quality Conference Highlights the Importance of Access to High Quality Oral Health Care Apr 24, 2024 On April 8-9, 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) hosted the 2024 Quality Conference. The conference theme was "Resilient and Ready Together: Creating an Optimal Environment for Quality Healthcare for Individuals, Families, and Communities."
AGD Signs Letter in Support of the Dental Faculty Loan Repayment Assistance Ac Apr 11, 2024 On April 2, 2024, AGD and other oral health advocacy organizations sent a letter to House Energy & Commerce and House Ways & Means Committee leadership in support of H.R.7814, the Dental Faculty Loan Repayment Assistance Act
Senate Passes AGD-Supported Resolution to Promote Health Care Workforce Well-being Apr 11, 2024 On March 20, 2024, the Senate passed S.Res.567, a bipartisan resolution to designate March 18, 2024, as the inaugural "Health Workforce Well-Being Day of Awareness."
President Biden Releases FY 2025 Budget Proposal Mar 26, 2024 On March 11, 2024, the Biden Administration released its FY 2025 Budget Proposal. The Budget Proposal provides insight into the administration’s policy priorities, even though these legislative proposals are unlikely to be considered by the current Congress.
Congress Finalizes Last FY 2024 Funding Bill, Averting Government Shutdown Mar 26, 2024 On March 23, 2024, President Biden signed a ‘minibus’ appropriations package for the remaining six of the 12 spending bills, finalizing fiscal year (FY) 2024 funding and averting a government shutdown.
AGD Signs Bipartisan Resolution to Establish a Health Workforce Well-Being Day of Awareness Mar 13, 2024 On February 28, 2024, Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Roger Marshall (R-KS) introduced S.Res. 567, a bipartisan resolution to designate March 18, 2024, as the inaugural "Health Workforce Well-Being Day of Awareness."
House Passes Action for Dental Health Act Mar 13, 2024 On March 8, 2024, the House of Representatives passed the Action for Dental Health Act of 2023 (H.R. 3843) by a vote of 391 to 32. Thank you to the hundreds of AGD members who contacted their Representative via our action alert.
Government Passes Minibus, Averts Partial Shutdown Mar 13, 2024 On March 9, 2024, a government shutdown was averted when President Biden signed a ‘minibus’ appropriations package for six of the 12 spending bills, including the Agriculture/FDA appropriations.
HHS Final Rule Modified SUD Confidentiality Regulations to Align with HIPAA Feb 29, 2024 On February 8, 2024, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) released a final rule entitled, Confidentiality of Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Patient Records.
Senator Cassidy (R-LA) Releases Brief on Health Data Privacy Feb 29, 2024 On February 21, 2024, Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, released a report entitled, Strengthening Health Data Privacy for Americans: Addressing the Challenges of the Modern Era.
Congressional Leaders Announce Bipartisan AI Task Force Feb 29, 2024 On February 20, 2024, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) announced a bipartisan Task Force on Artificial Intelligence (AI) to explore ways that Congress can support AI innovation while establishing appropriate guardrails
House E&C Committee Requests Study on Consolidation in Dental Insurance Feb 14, 2024 On January 17, 2024, the Chair of the House Energy & Commerce (E&C) Full Committee and the Chair of the E&C Health Subcommittee, Representatives Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA-5) and Brett Guthrie (R-KY-2) respectively, sent a letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) requesting a study on the vertical integration and consolidation of the dental and vision benefits industries.
Senators Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Reauthorize CDC Oral Health Funding Feb 14, 2024 On January 17, 2024, Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Roger Marshall (R-KS) introduced S.3597, the Promoting Dental Health Act.
HHS Posts List of National Health Professional Shortage Areas Jan 31, 2024 On January 2, 2024, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) posted new Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) designations and withdrawals and shared information on the process to submit comments on these decisions.
HHS Secretary Announces Inaugural Chief Competition Officer Jan 31, 2024 On January 8, 2024, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that Stacy Sanders will serve as the Department’s inaugural Chief Competition Officer, a newly created role aimed at reducing healthcare and prescription drug costs by promoting competition.