Government Passes Minibus, Averts Partial Shutdown
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
Short-Term Funding Agreement Reached as Government Shutdown Looms
On January 18, 2024, President Biden signed into law another Continuing Resolution (CR) necessary to keep the government open, H.R.2872, Further Additional Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act, 2024.
Help Support the AGD Advocacy Fund
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.
House Passed the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act
On December 11, 2023, the House of Representatives passed the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act, H.R. 5378.
Support Act Advanced in House Vote, Senate Committee Markup
This week, the House and Senate both took major steps towards reauthorizing the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment (SUPPORT) for Patients and Communities Act, which was originally enacted in 2018 to comprehensively address to the opioid epidemic.
Help Support the AGD Advocacy Fund
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.
House Energy and Commerce Committee Held Hearing on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Health Care
On November 29, 2023, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee held a hearing entitled, Understanding How AI is Changing Health Care. Witnesses included representatives from hospitals, health care companies, and medical schools.
Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) Calls on CMS to Notify States on Recent Medicare Changes for Oral Health Care Services
On November 28, 2023, Senator Dick Durbin sent a letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) urging the Administrator to notify states about the recent Medicare changes to oral health care services that were included in the 2024 Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Payment System final rule.
AGD Virtual Advocacy Conference
The AGD will be holding a free virtual Advocacy Conference with two-half days on December 15 – 16, 2023. Earn 7.5 hours of CE and gain insight into the current legislative and regulatory landscape and how it may affect your practice. Hear from AGD members on today’s important issues and learn how you can make a difference at the state and federal levels.
Help Support the AGD Advocacy Fund
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.
President Biden Signs “Laddered” Continuing Resolution, Avoiding Government Shutdown
On November 16, 2023, President Biden signed a “laddered” continuing resolution (CR) into law, entitled the Further Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act, 2024 to avert a government shutdown as federal funding was set to expire on November 17, 2023.
Executive Order on The Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use Of AI
On October 30, 2023, President Joe Biden signed an executive order (EO) entitled, Executive Order on the Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence.
Senate HELP Committee Advances Nomination of Dr. Monica Bertagnolli for NIH Director
On October 25, 2023, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pension (HELP) Committee voted to advance the nomination of Dr. Monica Bertagnolli for Director for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) by a vote of 15 to 6.