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American Dental Education Association

Volume 3, No. 4, June 21, 2023
HHS Tries to Stem Medicaid Coverage Losses

 

According to the , as of June 15 over 1.2 million people have lost their Medicaid coverage since pandemic protections ended on April 1. Their of state data shows the vast majority were removed from state rolls for not completing paperwork. The federal government estimates that 15 million people could lose their Medicaid coverage over the coming year as the pandemic protections wind down.

 

In an effort to stem Medicaid coverage losses, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Beccera sent a to governors asking them to review their current outreach efforts and also extended new flexibilities to the states. These new flexibilities are aimed at boosting Medicaid renewals. Specifically, the new flexibilities would:

  • Allow managed care plans to assist people with Medicaid with completing their renewal forms, including completing certain parts of the renewal forms on their behalf.
  • Allow states to delay an administrative termination for one month while the state conducts additional targeted outreach. This will give more time to remind people to fill out and return their renewal forms.
  • Allow pharmacies and community-based organizations to facilitate reinstatement of coverage for those who were recently disenrolled for procedural reasons based on presumptive eligibility criteria.

A full list of all available flexibilities HHS is offering states .
Rep. Dan Crenshaw Introduces Bill Limiting Funding for Children’s Hospitals’ GME Programs

 

Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX-2) introduced , The Children’s Hospital GME Support Reauthorization Act of 2023. This , which must be reauthorized every 5 years, is currently in the reauthorization process. The program provides funds to train pediatric medical residents and dentists at 59 hospitals nationwide. Rep. Crenshaw’s bill would prohibit funding from the Children’s Hospitals’ Graduate Medical Education (GME) program from going to children’s hospitals that offer “gender affirming care” to minors, including surgeries, hormone therapy and puberty blockers. As a result, those hospitals would lose federal funding for their GME slots funded through this program.

 

According to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration, in the academic year 2021–22 , there were 516 Children’s Hospital GME-funded advanced dentistry residents, including 415 pediatric dentists, 24 advanced general dentists and 23 pediatric orthodontists.

 

The official bill text is not yet available on the congressional website; however, the unofficial text can be found .

Maine Sends Bill to Governor to Study Feasibility of Establishing Dental Therapy Program at University of Maine

 

Maine will to Gov. Janet Mills (D) that if signed, will mandate the University of Maine System to study and analyze the feasibility of establishing a dental therapy degree program at the University of Maine at Augusta. The system will be required to consider the costs associated with establishing a program, the demand for a dental therapy program in the state and region and any other issues the system considers appropriate. The system will also be required to submit findings and recommended legislation to the legislature by Nov. 6, 2024.

 

Maine first passed a of dental therapy in 2014, and in 2021. While currently authorize the practice of dental therapy, there are only in three states.

Nevada Governor Signs Bill to Create New Health Care Provider Student Loan Program

 

Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo (R) on June 10 to create a new student loan repayment program for health care providers who work in underserved communities. Once implemented, the Student Loan Repayment for Providers of Health Care in Underserved Communities Program will provide up to $120,000 in student loan repayments to health care providers who work in eligible professions in specified geographic areas. Dentists are listed among eligible professionals, but dental hygienists are not.

 

The bill also requires the state treasurer to adopt a methodology for determining the amount of repayment an eligible provider may receive from the program. The methodology must include a sliding scale that conditions the amount on areas of specialization, type of degree and average loan burden for the particular field of health care.

 

For more information about student loan forgiveness programs for oral health professionals in other states, please refer to .

 
Connecticut Sends Bill to Governor to Create New Pathway for Authorizing Dental Hygienists to Take Radiographs

 

The Connecticut Legislature will to Gov. Ned Lamont (D) that if signed would allow create a new pathway that would authorize dental assistants to take radiographs. Under current state law, dentists may delegate the taking of radiographs to dental assistants who pass the dental radiation health and safety examination administered by the Dental Assisting National Board.

 

This bill would create an alternative to this requirement by also allowing dental assistants to complete a radiation health and safety competency assessment administered by a state based dental education program that is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation.

 

The bill also requires the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine complete the assessment by Jan. 1, 2025.

 

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

  • ADEA on teledentistry
  • ADEA on the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on U.S. Dental Schools
  • ADEA policy regarding overprescription of antibiotics
  • For a full list of ADEA memos, briefs and letters click .

The 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.

 

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American Dental Education Association

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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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