Congress Returns with Few Days Left, But Much to Do
On September 9, 2024, Congress returned to session following a six-week summer recess, and now must reach an agreement in the coming days to fund the government and avoid a shutdown.
Federal District Court Strikes Down FTC Noncompete Ban
On August 20, 2024, a federal district court judge in Texas struck down the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC’s) rule banning noncompete clauses in employment agreements.
AGD Exhibits at State Legislative Conferences
In late July AGD exhibited at the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) Annual Meeting in Denver. ALEC brings together legislators from around the country who support free markets, limited government and federalism.
AGD Warns Against Proposed Restructuring of NIH
On August 16, 2024, AGD wrote to House Energy & Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA-5), advocating against the proposed restructuring of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
AGD Voices Support for the Oral Health Products Inclusion Act
On July 24, 2024, AGD, alongside 17 other organizations, sent a letter of support to the sponsors of the Oral Health Products Inclusion Act (H.R. 8599). This legislation would allow funds from health savings accounts (HSAs) and flexible spending accounts (FSAs) to be used to purchase over-the-counter (OTC) oral health products, such as toothbrushes and floss.
CMS Releases Inaugural Oral Health Cross-Cutting Initiative Fact Sheet
On July 23, 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released its inaugural Oral Health Cross-Cutting Initiative (CCI) fact sheet. The fact sheet provides an overview of the Oral Health CCI and the program’s key results so far.
Senator Calls for Better Health Care Cybersecurity Measures
On July 12, 2024, Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) wrote a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra and Deputy National Security Advisor Anne Neuberger, urging them to develop and release a set of mandatory national minimum cybersecurity standards for health care organizations.
Dental Insurance Reforms Continue to Pass in the States
As state legislative sessions wind down, dental insurance reform continues to be a hot issue in the Capitol. Last week Pennsylvania Governor Shapiro signed into law a bill prohibiting insurers from requiring providers to accept credit cards as payment for services.
Supreme Court Overturns Chevron Deference Doctrine
On June 28, 2024, the Supreme Court of the United States overturned Chevron U. S. A. Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc. in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo and Relentless, Inc. v. Department of Commerce.
U.S. House of Representatives Focuses on FY 2025 Spending Bills
On June 26, 2024, the House Appropriations Committee released the fiscal year (FY) 2025 Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee spending bill, which would allocate $185.8 billion in discretionary funding.
Bipartisan House Bill Would Make Over-the-Counter Oral Health Products HSA-Eligible
On June 3, 2024, Representatives Jeff Van Drew, DMD (R-NJ-2), Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY-11), Brad Schneider (D-IL-10), and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-19) introduced a bill entitled, To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to include over-the-counter oral healthcare products as qualified medical expenses which can be purchased with HSA and FSA funds (H.R. 8599).
AGD Signs onto Amicus Brief with the Supreme
AGD recently signed onto an Amicus Brief, initiated by the American Dental Association (ADA), asking the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) to hear Mulready v. Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA).
Advocacy on HRSA Workforce Programs Ramps Up
On May 7, 2024, House Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone (D-NJ-6) wrote a letter to HRSA, urging the agency to increase its per resident allocation (PRA) for the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education (THCGME) program by $10,000 for the next academic year beginning on July 1, 2024.
AGD Hosts Successful Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill
Roughly 30 AGD advocates, including its leadership team, traveled to Washington, D.C. to meet with federal policymakers during the week of May 20, 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.
Senate Health Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Holds Hearing on Access to Dental Care
On May 16, 2024, the Senate HELP Committee held a hearing entitled, Examining the Dental Care Crisis in America: How Can We Make Dental Care More Affordable and More Available? The hearing examined the root causes of barriers to accessing adequate dental care including workforce shortages and student loan debt, and potential policy solutions to fill these gaps.
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.
HHS Delays Ban on Menthol Cigarettes
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
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
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.