Congress Waits on Cost Estimates for Social Spending Package
Consideration of President Biden's broad social spending package, the Build Back Better Act (H.R.5376), in the U.S. House of Representatives is paused pending the release of cost scoring estimates from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). However, due to substantial pressure to pass the package in the House before Congress takes a recess for Thanksgiving, it may be brought to the floor for a vote later in the week or this weekend.
When the roughly $2 trillion budget reconciliation package is passed in the House, the Senate will then need to ensure that the package fully abides by original rules set out for reconciliation by the Budget Committee, as well as the "Byrd rule." The Senate is not anticipated to make any significant additions to the package, and provisions to expand Medicare to include dental benefits should remain out of the package. Timing for the final enactment of the Build Back Better Act is unclear, but it is expected to take several weeks before the bill is actually signed into law.
Impact on General Dentistry: AGD will continue to engage with policymakers to ensure any proposals to expand Medicare to include dental benefits are omitted from the ongoing consideration of the budget reconciliation package. AGD members have been an integral part of informing policymakers on general dentists' concerns with proposals to expand Medicare to include dental. AGD appreciates the many members who have contacted their members of Congress through action alerts on this issue.
When the roughly $2 trillion budget reconciliation package is passed in the House, the Senate will then need to ensure that the package fully abides by original rules set out for reconciliation by the Budget Committee, as well as the "Byrd rule." The Senate is not anticipated to make any significant additions to the package, and provisions to expand Medicare to include dental benefits should remain out of the package. Timing for the final enactment of the Build Back Better Act is unclear, but it is expected to take several weeks before the bill is actually signed into law.
Impact on General Dentistry: AGD will continue to engage with policymakers to ensure any proposals to expand Medicare to include dental benefits are omitted from the ongoing consideration of the budget reconciliation package. AGD members have been an integral part of informing policymakers on general dentists' concerns with proposals to expand Medicare to include dental. AGD appreciates the many members who have contacted their members of Congress through action alerts on this issue.