AGD Capitol Connections

On February 14, 2023, Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD), Ray Luján (D-NM) and Susan Collins (R-ME), along with Representatives Tony Cárdenas (CA-29) and Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), reintroduced the bipartisan Oral Health Literacy and Awareness Act of 2023.

On February 21, 2023, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) held a hearing entitled, Examining Health Care Workforce Shortages: Where Do We Go from Here? The hearing examined the current and anticipated workforce shortages among health care personnel and addressed potential ways to mitigate the shortages.

Over the past two weeks, AGD leadership held virtual meetings with Senior Administration Health Officials to discuss AGD’s advocacy priorities and opportunities for collaboration and federal engagement.

Senators Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Ben Cardin (D-MD) recently introduced S.5073, the Oral Health Literacy and Awareness Act of 2022, in the U.S. Senate.

With President Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan temporarily blocked by a federal appeals court and set to go before the U.S. Supreme Court, the Department of Education announced an extension of the current pause on student loan repayment, interest, and collections until June 30, 2023 or until the litigation is resolved.

Senators Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Ben Cardin (D-MD) recently introduced S.5073, the Oral Health Literacy and Awareness Act of 2022, in the U.S. Senate.

The AGD joined Tobacco Free Kids and 69 other health, medical, education, and community organizations in a letter to congressional appropriators, urging them to fund the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Office on Smoking and Health (OSH) at $261.5 million for fiscal year 2023.

Senators Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Ben Cardin (D-MD) recently introduced S.5073, the Oral Health Literacy and Awareness Act of 2022, in the U.S. Senate.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized their Calendar Year 2023 Physician Fee Schedule rule that expands access to behavioral health services, Accountable Care Organizations, cancer screenings, and dental services deemed “medically necessary” under Medicare.

The AGD recently signed onto an Organized Dentistry Coalition letter, urging leaders on the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee to include S.754, the Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act (ELSA), in any package scheduled to be taken up by the Senate before the end of the year.

The Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) Board approved a contribution of $50,000 from the AGD Advocacy Fund to support a statewide ballot initiative in Massachusetts — Question 2 — that would require dental insurance companies to spend at least 83% of premium dollars collected on dental services or refund the difference to patients.

President Biden’s plan to cancel up to $20,000 of student loan debt for eligible Pell Grant recipients and up to $10,000 of debt for eligible non-Pell Grant borrowers who earn less than $125,000 annually ($250,000 for married couples) has been temporarily blocked by a federal appeals court.

The AGD led an Organized Dentistry Coalition (ODC) letter supporting S.5073 the Oral Health Literacy and Awareness Act of 2022. 19 national dental organizations signed onto the letter to endorse the legislation and advocate for the promotion of oral health literacy (OHL).

The Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) Board approved a contribution of $50,000 from the AGD Advocacy Fund to support a statewide ballot initiative in Massachusetts — Question 2 — that would require dental insurance companies to spend at least 83% of premium dollars collected on dental services or refund the difference to patients.

In a letter to the Chief Dental Officer of the World Health Organization (WHO), AGD outlined its positions on some of the topics covered under the WHO’s Global Oral Health Action Plan (2023-2030) draft.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently proposed a rule that would update its Calendar Year 2023 Physician Fee Schedule to include expanded access to behavioral health services, Accountable Care Organizations, cancer screenings, and dental services deemed “medically necessary” under Medicare.

In a letter addressed to the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the AGD expressed its deep concerns with recommendations put forward by the Advisory Committee on Training in Primary Care Medicine and Dentistry’s (ACTPCMD) 19th Annual Report.

H.R.4555, the Oral Health Literacy and Awareness Act, overwhelmingly passed the House by a 369-58 vote last year, but the Senate has yet to take up this important public health legislation.

AGD joined Tobacco Free Kids and over 70 other health, medical, education, and community organizations in a letter to Dr. Robert Califf, Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), to express support for the FDA’s recent announcement to develop a product standard that reduces nicotine levels in cigarettes to non-addictive or minimally addictive levels.

Last week, the AGD sent a letter to Congressional appropriators on the House and Senate Labor, Health and Humans Services, Education and Related Agencies Subcommittees with recommendations for funding critical dental workforce and oral-related programs in FY2023 appropriations legislation.