AGD Capitol Connections

On October 18, 2024, Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden (D-OR) sent a letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure and Deputy Administrator Dan Tsai urging the agency to address the critical shortage of addiction medicine specialists in the U.S. to improve access to substance use disorder (SUD) services for Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) patients, particularly in rural and underserved areas.

On October 30, 2024, the AGD sent a letter to House and Senate Leadership of the Appropriations Subcommittees on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies, including House Subcommittee Chair Robert Aderholt (R-AL), Senate Subcommittee Chair Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), House Subcommittee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), and Senate Subcommittee Ranking Member Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV).

On October 10, 2024, Premier Inc. released survey data indicating that more than 86 percent of providers are facing an IV fluid shortage, with over half of respondents possessing a 10-day supply or less.

On October 9, 2024, the Academy of General Dentistry, along with other organizations, sent a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell expressing support for the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment (SUPPORT) for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act (H.R. 4531 / S. 3393).

On September 26, 2024, the Biden Administration released new guidance on Medicaid and CHIP coverage for children. This comprehensive guidance, the most detailed Medicaid Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) framework released in a decade, highlights best practices and strategies for states to meet Medicaid’s EPSDT requirements.

On September 25, 2024, the House of Representatives passed a continuing resolution (CR), H.R. 9747, to maintain federal funding through December 20, 2024, which the Senate passed shortly thereafter.

On October 11, 2023, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the formation of the Digital Health Advisory Committee to aid the agency in regulating the development and use of digital health technologies (DHTs), including artificial intelligence and machine learning.

On October 16, 2023, the AGD sent a letter to the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) urging the agency to evaluate and revise the existing dental Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA) designation programs.

On October 3, 2023, the House of Representatives voted to vacate the seat of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) in a historic 216-210 vote. This marks the first time in history that a House speaker has been removed in this manner.

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).

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.

On October 11, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) issued a "dear colleague" letter outlining her perspective on the path forward for the Build Back Better Act, the "human infrastructure" package expected to total between $1.5 – $3.5 trillion in spending on a broad range of programs.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sent a COVID-19 vaccination and testing emergency temporary standard (ETS) to the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) on October 12 for regulatory review.

On October 20, AGD's President, Dr. Bruce Cassis, DDS, MAGD, will testify before the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Health in support of the Oral Health Literacy and Awareness Act (H.R.4555).

House Republicans released a $47 billion Covid-19 relief proposal (H.R.14) on October 30 intended to be a "serious, targeted proposal" to address the pandemic (summary).

On October 22, the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that the reporting guidance for Provider Relief Fund (PRF) payment recipients had been amended to increase flexibility around how providers can apply PRF money toward lost revenues attributable to coronavirus.

AGD, along with 28 other allied health organizations, including AAOMS and ADA, sent a letter to the leaders of the House Education & Labor Committee on October 15, voicing support for H.R.1379, the Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act (ELSA).