Government Shutdown Averted
On September 30, 2023, Congress passed a last-minute spending bill (H.R. 5860) averting a government shutdown. The 71-page bill was crafted by then House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA).
U.S. Faces Potential Government Shutdown
The U.S. is on the verge of a government shutdown, with Congress facing a September 30, 2023, deadline to pass appropriations bills to fund the government. There are several options for Congress and the President during high-stakes negotiations over funding the federal government as the fiscal year (FY) comes to an end.
House E&C Committee Held Hearing on Legislative Proposals to Prevent and Respond to Generic Drug Shortages
On September 14, 2023, the House Energy and Commerce (E&C) Committee held a legislative hearing entitled Legislative Proposals to Prevent and Respond to Generic Drug Shortages.
Senate Help Committee Considers Primary Care and Health Workforce Legislation
On September 21, 2023, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, & Pensions (HELP) held a markup of legislative proposals intended to boost primary care access and reauthorize programs addressing maternal morbidity and mortality and pediatric cancer research. The committee voted in favor of all four bills.
Senator Cassidy Requests Information on Improving Health Data Privacy
On September 7, 2023, Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), ranking member of the Senate HELP Committee, requested information from stakeholders on how to enhance the privacy protections of health data to safeguard sensitive information while balancing the need to support medical research.
Senator Cassidy Releases White Paper and Request for Information On AI
On September 6, 2023, Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, released a white paper on artificial intelligence (AI) and the technology's potential benefits and risks to society.
House Ways and Means Committee Seeks Broad Stakeholder Input on Addressing Chronic Disparities in Access to Health Care in Rural and Underserved Communities
On September 7, 2023, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (MO-08) released an open letter to the health care community requesting comments and input on addressing disparities in access to health care.
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.
AGD exhibits at ALEC and NCSL Annual Meetings
In July, AGD exhibited at the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) Annual Meeting in Orlando and in August AGD exhibited at the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) Annual Meeting in Indianapolis.
DEA Final Rule on Dispensing Narcotic Drugs
On August 7, 2023, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) issued a final rule entitled, Dispensing of Narcotic Drugs to Relieve Acute Withdrawal Symptoms of Opioid Use Disorder.
MATE Act Discussions
The Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE) Act of 2021 is a law passed as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, focused on training for prescribers of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment drugs and requires health care providers, including dentists, to complete a one-time training on managing patients with SUDs as a condition of receiving or renewing a registration to prescribe controlled substances.
Congressional Outlook for August and September 2023
On July 28, 2023, both the House of Representatives and the Senate entered the summer congressional district work period colloquially referred to as "August recess", which is a month-long period in which Members of Congress leave D.C. to travel back to their home states and districts.
Dental Organizations Urge NCOIL to Support MLR Legislation for Dental Plans
On July 19, 2023, the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), along with several other dental organizations, sent a letter to the National Council of Insurance Legislators (NCOIL) Committee on Health Insurance & Long-Term Care Issues, urging them to adopt the Medical Loss Ratios (MLR) for Dental Health Care Services Plans Model Act (the Model Act).
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.
CMS Releases Annual Payment Rules
On July 13, 2023, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released two proposed rules, the Calendar Year (CY) 2024 Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Payment System Proposed Rule (CMS 1786-P) and the Calendar Year (CY) 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) Proposed Rule (CMS-1784-P).
Dentists Urge House Members to Reauthorize Action for Dental Health (ADH)
On July 18, 2023, the AGD and other dental organizations sent a letter to House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA-5) and Ranking Member Frank Pallone (D-NJ-6) urging them to reauthorize the Action for Dental Health (ADH) program (H.R. 3843, the Action for Dental Health Act of 2023) for 5 years (2024 through 2028).
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 Help Releases Staff Bipartisan Discussion Draft Legislation to Reauthorize PAHPA
On July 3, 2023, staff of Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Bob Casey (D-PA), and Mitt Romney (R-UT) released a staff-level bipartisan discussion draft to reauthorize the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA).
States Continue Enacting Insurance Reforms
By the end of June most state legislatures have ended their sessions for 2023 and adjourned for the year. In addition to medical loss ratio legislation, dentists continued to advocate for insurance reform in the state capitols.
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.