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.
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.
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.
AGD Comments on WHO’s Draft Global Oral Health Action Plan
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.
AGD Comments on CMS Rule to Expand Dental Coverage Under Medicare
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.
AGD Responds to Advisory Committees’ Support for Dental Therapy
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.
Urge the Senate to Take Up H.R.4555
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 Applauds FDA Plans to Reduce Nicotine in Tobacco Products
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.
AGD Sends FY2023 Appropriations Request to Congress
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.
FDA to Hold Workshop on Mandatory Prescriber Education for Opioids
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on September 8 that it would be conducting a two-day public workshop, "Reconsidering Mandatory Opioid Prescriber Education Through a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) in an Evolving Opioid Crisis," to allow stakeholders to provide input on aspects of the current opioid crisis that could be mitigated measurably by requiring mandatory prescriber education as part of a REMS.
Additional HRSA Provider Relief Fund Distribution Announced
On September 10, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that an additional $25.5 billion in new funding would be made available through HRSA's Provider Relief Fund to health care providers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
House Committees Vote to Advance Medicare Dental Benefits Expansion
The House Ways & Means Committee and the House Energy & Commerce Committee voted on September 10 and 15 to pass portions of the Democrats' $3.5 trillion "human infrastructure" Budget Reconciliation package, the Build Back Better Act. These two Committees included a proposal to expand Medicare to include dental, vision, and hearing benefits in their portions of the package.
Dental Coalition Urges Support for PREVENT HPV Cancers Act
AGD signed on to an Organized Dentistry Coalition (ODC) letter that was sent to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) in support of H.R.1550, the Promoting Resources to Expand Vaccination, Education and New Treatments for (PREVENT) HPV Cancers Act. The letter called for the PREVENT HPV Cancers Act to be brought to the House floor for a vote and communicated the ODC’s strong support for the legislation.
CMS Announces First-ever Chief Dental Officer
On August 30, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that Dr. Natalia Chalmers, D.D.S., would be its first-ever Chief Dental Officer (CDO) in the Office of the Administrator.
Coalition of Dental Organizations Voice Opposition to Medicare Dental Benefits Expansion
On September 1, a group of 11 allied dental organizations, including AGD, ADA, and AAOMS, sent a letter to the leadership of the U.S. House and Senate, as well as relevant Congressional Committees, urging them to reconsider legislative proposals that would expand Medicare to include a dental benefit.
AGD Tells All of Congress to Consider the Ramifications of Expanding Medicare
AGD’s President, Dr. Bruce Cassis, D.D.S., MAGD, sent a letter to every member of the U.S. House and Senate on September 7, asking them to consider the unforeseen and significant consequences of expanding Medicare to include dental benefits.