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American Dental Education Association


Volume 2, No. 99, May 16, 2023

Senate HELP Committee Holds Field Hearing and Roundtable to Discuss Diversifying the Health Workforce
 
U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP), held a field hearing and roundtable at Morehouse College School of Medicine centered around the lack of diversity in the health care. The field hearing titled, “How Can We Improve Health Workforce Diversity and Address Shortages? A Conversation with Historically Black College and University Leaders and Students,” centered on the barriers that minority students face with entering the health hcare professions.
 
Hearing witnesses included leaders from Morehouse Medical School, Meharry Medical College, Howard University, Charles Drew University, the President of the American Association of Medical Colleges and student leaders. Topics ranged from high student loan indebtedness and its adverse impact on minorities being able to practice in underserved areas, to the lack of sufficient pay for residents, to the need to double funding for Title VII and VIII programs under the Health Resources and Services Administration.
 
During the hearing, Senator Sanders stated that he was there to listen, but that he “could make no promises, given the political climate that we are in,” but that he would do his best to address the concerns raised. A video [ [link removed] ] of the field hearing/roundtable is available.

FDA Issues Finalized Blood Donation Recommendations
 
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) finalized recommendations [ [link removed] ] for assessing blood donor eligibility using a set of individual, risk-based questions to reduce the risk of transfusion-transmitted HIV. These questions will be the same for every donor, regardless of sexual orientation, sex or gender. These finalized recommendations eliminate time-based deferrals and screening questions specific to men who have sex with men (MSM) and women who have sex with MSM.
 
The FDA notes that the United Kingdom and Canada already have similar recommendations in effect.
 
The FDA is confident that the U.S. blood supply will remain safe.

DEA Issues Rule Temporarily Extending COVID-19 Telemedicine Flexibilities for Controlled Drugs
 
A day before the expiration of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) issued the “Temporary Extension of COVID-19 Telemedicine Flexibilities for Prescription of Controlled Medications [ [link removed] ] .”
 
The DEA’s press release [ [link removed]. ] stated, “The temporary rule will take effect on May 11, 2023, and extends the full set of telemedicine flexibilities adopted during the COVID-19 public health emergency for six months—through November 11, 2023. For any practitioner-patient telemedicine relationships that have been or will be established up to November 11, 2023, the full set of telemedicine flexibilities regarding prescription of controlled medications established during the COVID-19 PHE will be extended for one year—through November 11, 2024.”

Update to the ADEA Compilation of State Teledentistry Statutes and Regulations
 
An update to the ADEA Compilation of State Teledentistry Statutes and Regulations [ [link removed] ] is now available. This first-of-its-kind resource compiles state laws and regulations that are relevant to teledentistry, including those that address issues related to permissible practices, Medicaid reimbursement and private-payer reimbursement.
 
Additionally, this resource includes a chart that compares common state teledentistry/telehealth policies. This chart can be used as a companion to the compilations and as quick reference tool for those seeking a brief overview or comparison of permissible practices related to teledentistry in each state.
 
These materials can also be used as a companion to the ADEA Policy Research Series report, Teledentistry: Innovation to Improving Access and Delivery to Oral Health Care Services in Dental Education [ [link removed] ] . This report outlines state regulations and reimbursement mechanisms for teledentistry, the role of teledentistry in minimizing oral health disparities through practice and dental education and teledentistry’s compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) for the prevention and treatment of oral health diseases. The report provides information about the benefits of including teledentistry in dental education and continuing to expand this important field.

Florida, North Dakota and Tennessee Governors Sign Anti-DEI Legislation, and Anti-DEI Bill Passes Texas Senate
 
Several bills that oppose Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives at institutions of higher education have either passed state legislatures or are moving through the legislative process.
 
Florida [ [link removed] ] Governor, Ron DeSantis (R) signed a bill [ [link removed] ] that would implement a number of provisions that oppose DEI initiatives. Among those provisions is a ban on public institutions using federal or state funds to promote, support or maintain any programs or campus activities that advocate for DEI or promote or engage in political or social activism, as defined by rules of the State Board of Education and regulations of the Board of Governors. The bill also prohibits a state university from requiring any statement, pledge or oath other than to uphold general and federal law, the U.S. Constitution and the State Constitution as a part of any admissions, hiring, employment, promotion, tenure, disciplinary or evaluation process. A complete summary [ [link removed] ] of the bill has been posted on the state legislature’s website.
 
In North Dakota [ [link removed] ] , Gov. Doug Burgum (R) signed a bill that prohibits institutions of higher education from requiring employees and students from participating in trainings that include specified divisive concepts [ [link removed](DEI)%20initiatives. ] that address topics of race and gender.
 
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee (R) signed a bill [ [link removed] ] that authorizes a student or employee of a public institution of higher education to file a report of an alleged violation related to a restriction on divisive concepts. The bill also requires institutions to ensure that its employees whose job duties include diversity, equity or inclusion are to be devoted to supporting student academic achievement and workforce readiness, or other related learning support activities necessary for the academic success of all students. A complete summary of the bill can be found on the bill page linked to above.
 
The Tennessee General Assembly has sent a separate bill [ [link removed] ] to Gov. Lee that, if signed, would prohibit a public institution of higher education, as well as K-12 institutions, from requiring an educator, faculty member or employee to complete or participate in implicit bias training.
 
Finally, in Texas [ [link removed] ] , the state Senate has passed a bill that prohibits institution of higher education from establishing or maintaining a DEI office or hiring or assigning an employee of the institution, or contract with a third party, to perform the duties of a DEI office. The bill also prohibits an institution from compelling, requiring, inducing or soliciting any person to provide a diversity, equity and inclusion statement or give preferential consideration to any person based on the provision of a diversity, equity and inclusion statement. A complete summary [ [link removed] ] of the bill is available.

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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