AGD Capitol Connections

The Medicare Dental, Vision, and Hearing Benefit Act (H.R.4311) from Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) and the Medicare Dental Coverage Act (H.R.4650) from Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL) were both recently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. Both bills would expand Medicare Part B coverage to include comprehensive dental and oral health services.

On July 20, Representatives Tony Cárdenas (D-CA) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) reintroduced H.R.4555, the Oral Health Literacy and Awareness Act of 2021.

A broad coalition of health stakeholders led by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids sent a letter on June 30 to the leaders of the House Committee on Appropriations urging them to oppose any efforts to weaken FDA’s authority over cigars or any other tobacco products. The coalition included AGD along with other groups like ADA, AMA, and the American Lung Association.

AGD joined a coalition of dentist and physician organizations in sending a letter thanking the sponsors of the Resident Education Deferred Interest (REDI) Act, H.R.4122. This effort was spearheaded by the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS).

Providers who received Provider Relief Fund (PRF) payments during Reporting Period 1 (April 10, 2020 – June 30, 2020) are now able to submit post-payment reporting process information through the PRF Reporting Portal. These providers have until September 10, 2021, to complete the reporting process.

On July 13, AGD advocacy leaders gathered for AGD’s 2021 Virtual Hill Day event to meet with their members of Congress and discuss AGD priority legislative issues.

The AGD has worked diligently with constituents to help address issues during the COVID-19 emergency.

On July 15, the House Energy and Commerce Committee held a legislative markup session to approve several pending bills, including H.R.3935, the Protecting Patients Transportation to Care Act.

The U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently extended the deadline for both non-Medicaid and Medicaid/CHIP dental providers to apply for distribution under the CARES Act Provider Relief Fund to August 3, 2020.

Representatives Filemon Vela (D-TX-34) and Lance Gooden (R-TX-05) recently introduced H.R. 7671, the Small Business Comeback Act, to help save American businesses as they are once again being asked to close their doors to help slow the spread of COVID-19.

AGD joined allies in a July 17 Organized Dentistry Coalition (ODC) letter to Congressional leaders that calls on them to include policies that are a priority for dentistry in the next COVID-19 relief package.

The AGD has worked diligently with constituents to help address issues during the COVID-19 emergency. This has included providing resources, creating state-specific action alerts and helping compose and send letters to government entities that express concerns of general dentists within their state.

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has published frequently asked questions and answers (FAQs) to help protect workers from exposure to the coronavirus on July 2.

On July 4, the President signed legislation to extend the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) into law, S. 4116.

On July 8, the Treasury Dept. and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) provided guidance to employers requiring them to report the amount of qualified sick and family leave wages paid to employees under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) on W-2 Forms.

AGD officially endorsed the Small Business PPE Tax Credit Act (H.R.7216) in a July 8 letter to the sponsors of the legislation.

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) announced on July 10 that an application is now open for dental providers who may not have previously been eligible to receive funding through the CARES Act Provider Relief Fund.

The House of Representatives Appropriations Committee held a markup for the fiscal year 2021 funding legislation on July 13, including the appropriations package for the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS).

AGD Advocacy is continuously working with constituents to address issues as a result of the pandemic, such as advocating for PPE reimbursement and for dental practices to perform COVID-19 testing.

On June 17, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and Treasury Department posted a revised, borrower-friendly Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan forgiveness application as part of their implementation of the PPP Flexibility Act of 2020.