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American Dental Education Association


Volume 2, No. 97, May 2, 2023

CDC and Biden Administration Announce New COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations and Access Program for COVID-19 Vaccines and Treatment for the Uninsured
 
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new COVID-19 vaccine recommendations [ [link removed] ] . The CDC now recommends that Monovalent (original) mRNA COVID-19 vaccines no longer be used in the United States. Instead, the CDC recommends:
 • Allowing an additional updated (bivalent) vaccine dose for adults ages 65 years and older and additional doses for people who are immunocompromised.
 • Everyone ages 6 years and older receive an updated (bivalent) mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, regardless of whether they previously completed their (monovalent) primary series.
 • Individuals ages 6 years and older who have already received an updated mRNA vaccine do not need to take any action unless they are 65 years or older or immunocompromised.

Also, the Biden administration announced that it is setting up a Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Bridge Access Program For COVID-19 Vaccines and Treatments’ to Maintain Access to COVID-19 Care for the Uninsured [ [link removed] ] . The program will provide access to testing, vaccines and treatments, such as Paxlovid for the uninsured through existing public health infrastructure and at local health centers. Testing, vaccines and treatments will be provided at no-cost to the uninsured.
 
Because Congress has not appropriated additional funding to cover the cost of local pharmacy participation in the program, the CDC established a public-private partnership with local pharmacies to provide COVID-19 testing, vaccines and treatments. Pharmacies will provide these services for free to uninsured individuals.
 
Finally, insured individuals will be able to access testing, vaccines and treatments through their regular health care networks.

House Passes Bill Limiting Transgendered Students Participation in Sports
 
The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 734, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2023 [ [link removed] ] . The bill was introduced by U.S. Rep. Greg Steube (R-Fla.) and co-sponsored by U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.), Chairwoman of the House Education and Workforce Committee. The House passed the legislation along party lines by a vote of 219-203.
 
The bill would amend Title IX to define sex as being based solely on a person’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth. Specifically, the bill provides that it is a violation of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 for federally funded education programs or activities to operate, sponsor or facilitate athletic programs or activities that allow individuals of the male sex, as defined by this bill, to participate in programs or activities that are designated for women or girls.
 
Additionally, the bill asserts that nothing in it should be construed as prohibiting a school or university from allowing a male “to train or practice with an athletic program or activity that is designated for women or girls so long as no female is deprived of a roster spot on a team or sport, opportunity to participate in a practice or competition, scholarship, admission to an educational institution, or any other benefit that accompanies participating in the athletic program or activity.’’ The practical application of this will be that males can train or practice with a girls’ or women’s team, but they cannot be a member of a girls’ or women’s team.
 
These changes to Title IX would apply to all elementary and secondary schools, as well as higher education institutions that receive federal funds.
 
The U.S. Senate, led by Democrats, is unlikely to bring the bill up for a vote. However, the White House issued a Statement of Administration Policy [ [link removed] ] saying that it does not support the bill and will veto it if the bill does make it to President Biden’s desk.
 
This bill was passed on the heels of the Biden administration’s release of its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) [ [link removed] ] regarding Title IX’s treatment of transgendered athletes. In its current form, H.R. 734 would violate the regulations in the NPRM because it categorically prohibits transgendered women from participating in athletics.

Oklahoma State Legislature Passes Modifications to Dental Practice Act
 
The Oklahoma State Legislature will send a bill [ [link removed] ] to Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) that if enacted, will make several significant changes to the state’s dental practice act. A summary of the main provisions of the bill can be found below:
 • The bill specifies that a person must have passed a written theoretical examination and a clinical examination within the last five years to qualify for a dental or dental hygiene license.
 • The bill clarifies that dental hygienists may pass a manikin-based exam or a live patient exam for initial licensure.
 • The bill also adds four procedures to the list of expanded duty procedures that qualified dental hygienists may obtain a permit to perform. The new procedures include neuromodulator administration, therapeutic use of lasers, phlebotomy and venipuncture and elder care and public health when performed as teledentistry in long-term care facilities. These procedures are permitted to be performed under direct or indirect supervision of a dentist.
 • The bill clarifies that a dental hygienist holding an advanced procedure permit or credential in any other state for two years is eligible for the advanced procedure permit by credentials, provided that application for the advanced procedure permit for administration of local anesthesia additionally requires proof of passage of such advanced procedure in a CDCA-WREB-CITA exam.
 • The bill creates a definition for the term “dental hygiene” that reads “the science and practice of the promotion of oral health and prevention and treatment of oral disease through the provision of educational, therapeutic, clinical, and preventive services”.
 • The bill adds two types of expanded duty permits available for qualified dental assistants or oral maxillofacial surgery assistants. The new expanded duties are 1) phlebotomy and venipuncture and 2) elder care and public health as described in the bill.
 • The measure authorizes the use of teledentistry in long-term care settings by a supervised dental hygienist and allows a dental assistant to assist a dental hygienist who meets certain requirements in the long-term care settings.
 • The bill makes it unethical for a dentist to practice below the basic standard of care for a patient which an ordinary prudent dentist with similar training and experience within the local area would have provided, including, but not limited to, failing to complete proper training and demonstrate proficiency for any procedure delegated to a dental hygienist or dental assistant.

Washington State Legislature Passes Bill Requiring Health Carriers to Allow Licensed Denturists to Provide Covered Dental Services
 
On April 19, the Washington State Legislature sent a bill [ [link removed] ] to Gov. Jay Inslee (D) that would require health carriers offering dental-only coverage or dental coverage included within a health plan to permit licensed denturists to provide covered dental services or care within that provider's scope of practice, subject to certain limitations. Denturists must also agree to abide by standards related to provision, a utilization review and cost containment of dental services, management and administrative procedures and provision of cost-effective and clinically efficacious dental services.

Florida House of Representatives Passes Bill to Create Veterans’ Dental Care Program
 
The Florida House of Representatives voted in favor of legislation [ [link removed] ] that would create the Veterans’ Dental Care Grant Program. If signed into law, the bill would require the state’s Department of Veterans’ Affairs to contract with a statewide direct support organization to administer the program. The contracted organization would be responsible for distributing grants to eligible nonprofits that have experience in providing dental care to veterans. The bill will be sent to the state Senate for consideration.
 
In 2022, Oregon [ [link removed] ] implemented a dental program for veterans, and the Maine Veterans Dental Network [ [link removed] ] has been in operation in partnership with Northeast Delta Dental since 2021.

ADEA Advocacy in Action
This appears weekly in the ADEA Advocate to summarize and provide direct links to recent advocacy actions taken by ADEA. Please let us know what you think and how we might improve its usefulness.
 
Issues and Resources
 • Applications open [ [link removed] ] for Ryan White Part F Dental Reimbursement Program
 • Applications open [ [link removed] ] for HRSA Dental Public Health Research Fellowship
 • ADEA report [ [link removed] ] on teledentistry
 • ADEA report [ [link removed] ] on the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on U.S. Dental Schools
 • ADEA policy brief [ [link removed] ] regarding overprescription of antibiotics
 • For a full list of ADEA memos, briefs and letters click here [ [link removed] ] .

Key Federal Issues [ [link removed] ]

ADEA U.S. Interactive Legislative and Regulatory Tracking Map [ [link removed] ]

Key State Issues [ [link removed] ]

The ADEA Advocate [ [link removed] ] is published weekly. Its purpose is to keep ADEA members abreast of federal and state issues and events of interest to the academic dentistry and the dental and research communities.
 
©2023
American Dental Education Association
655 K Street, NW, Suite 800
Washington, DC 20001
Tel: 202-289-7201
Website: www.adea.org [ [link removed] ]

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B. Timothy Leeth, CPA
ADEA Chief Advocacy Officer
 
Bridgette DeHart, J.D.
ADEA Director of Federal Relations and Advocacy
 
Phillip Mauller, M.P.S.
ADEA Director of State Relations and Advocacy
 
Brian Robinson
ADEA Program Manager for Advocacy and Government Relations
 
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