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American Dental Education Association


Volume 3, No. 24, December 12, 2023

Lawmakers Introduce the Bipartisan Workforce Pell Act
 
Last week, a coalition of Republicans and Democrats introduced H.R. 6585, the Bipartisan Workforce Pell Act [ [link removed] ] . The legislation provides opportunities for students and workers looking to gain skills in high-demand fields by allowing Pell Grants to support students enrolled in high-quality, short-term workforce programs that will lead to career advancement. Currently, Pell Grants cannot be used for short-term training programs.
 
The Bipartisan Workforce Pell Act would:
 • Help low-income students participate in short-term programs to move into a job quickly.
 • Create a quality assurance system for Workforce Pell Grant programs—allowing any institution of higher education to participate as long as they meet all the requirements.
 • Guarantee that program prices are aligned with economic value, so students receive a positive return on investment.
 • Ensure programs provide students with relevant education and competencies necessary for employment in in-demand industries.
 • Outline a process for recognized accreditors to oversee Workforce Pell Grant programs at the institutions they accredit.
 • Support the on-ramp of new expert accreditors to oversee Workforce Pell Grant programs, minimizing the time it will take to fully implement Workforce Pell Grants.

Unlike most bills, this legislation has a strong chance of passing the U.S. House of Representatives because it is sponsored by senior Republican and Democratic members in leadership as well as on the committee of jurisdiction. Specifically, H.R. 6585 is sponsored by U.S. Reps. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), House Conference Chair Representative; Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA), Education and the Workforce Committee Ranking Member; Virginia Foxx (R-NC), Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman; and Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions Subcommittee Ranking Member. H.R. 6585 will likely move through the House during the first half of 2024, and if passed into law, would significantly lower educational costs for the dental allied health professions.
 
A fact sheet on H.R. 6585 can be found online [ [link removed] ] .

House Passes DETERRENT Act
 
On Dec. 6, H.R. 5933, the Defending Education Transparency and Ending Rogue Regimes Engaging in Nefarious Transactions (DETERRENT) Act [ [link removed] ] passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a 246 to 170 vote, with 17 members being no-votes and 215 Republicans and 31 Democrats voting in favor of the bill.
 
The bill previously passed out of the House’s Education and Workforce Committee by a bipartisan 27 to 11 vote. The bill, introduced by U.S. Rep. Michelle Steel (R-CA), strikes and replaces the existing Section 117, which requires institutions to submit biannual reports for gifts or contracts above $250,000. The new Section 117 created by the bill requires institutions to file reports annually on July 1 for gifts or contracts above $50,000. The amount of information now required in the reports has also significantly increased. The Department of Education (ED) will now be required to establish and maintain a searchable, public database on its website of the reports submitted.
 
Additionally, the bill prohibits institutions from entering into contracts with a foreign country of concern or with a foreign entity of concern without obtaining a waiver, requires certain institutions to disclose gifts or contracts between covered individuals (e.g., researchers) and foreign sources, and requires private institutions with specified assets or investments to file annual investment disclosure reports. A floor amendment introduced by U.S. Rep. Marcus Molinaro (R-NY) requires that foreign entities disclose any ties to designated foreign terrorist organizations, which includes Hamas.
 
The bill establishes harsher punishments for violations of Section 117, including the imposition of fines, some of which can range from 5% to 10% of the total amount of federal funds received by the institution. The fines are in addition to paying for all costs associated with the investigation and enforcement of Section 117, which was previously included in the statute.

Additional Proposals in the Payment Parameter Proposed Rule
 
On Nov. 24, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released its payment parameters proposed rule [ [link removed] ] and will likely finalize it in the spring and implement it by January 2025. The payment parameters proposed rule is a regulatory proposal in which CMS recommends standards for issuers and Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplaces, as well as requirements for agents, brokers, web-brokers, direct enrollment entities and assisters that help Marketplace consumers. In addition to expanding access to routine adult dental coverage by allowing states to include it in essential benefits, the payment parameter proposed rule released by the Biden administration also included other noteworthy, proposed changes to ACA Marketplaces.
 
Among the proposed changes for 2025 is a focus on “network adequacy,” urging states with their own ACA Marketplaces to ensure that insurers include a sufficient number of doctors, hospitals and providers in their covered networks. Additionally, there is an effort to standardize open enrollment periods across all states, starting on Nov. 1 and running through at least Jan. 15.
 
Note that changes made during one administration can be altered by the next. President Trump had rolled back ACA actions implemented by President Obama, while President Biden's team has expanded funding for enrollment and proposed regulations to restrict short-term plans labeled as "junk insurance." The “junk insurance” plans were implemented under the Trump administration. Therefore, the potential impact of these payment parameter proposals may be subject to the outcome of the next presidential election, with the possibility of a new administration rolling back or modifying the changes.

Proposed Wisconsin Rule Would Allow Dental Hygienists to Independently Apply Topical Anesthetics
 
The Wisconsin Dentistry Examining Board proposed a rule [ [link removed] ] that would allow dental hygienists to apply topical anesthetics without the presence of a licensed dentist. Under the proposal, this would be permitted if the procedure is performed under a written or oral prescription, and the dentist who wrote the prescription has seen the patient at least once during the 12-month period immediately preceding the procedure. A hearing on the proposal is scheduled for Jan. 3, 2024.

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 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
 
Varsha Menon
ADEA Program Manager for Advocacy and Government Relations
 
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