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American Dental Education Association

Volume 3, No. 38, April 16, 2024
President Biden Releases New Student Debt Plan

 

The to provide relief to student loan borrowers could have a significant impact, potentially benefiting millions of Americans burdened by student debt. By reducing payments for 25 million borrowers and wiping out debt entirely for over four million individuals, the proposal aims to alleviate financial strain on a substantial scale. A key aspect of the plan involves forgiving interest balances, with up to $20,000 in interest cancellation for borrowers whose loan balances increased due to accruing interest. This relief particularly targets low- and middle-income borrowers enrolled in income-driven repayment plans. These low- and middle-income borrowers would have their entire interest balance waived.

 

Moreover, the plan extends assistance to various groups facing distinct challenges related to student loan repayment. Borrowers eligible for existing forgiveness programs but who have not yet applied to the programs, such as the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program or the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Program, could have their debts automatically canceled. Additionally, the government is offering relief to undergraduate borrowers who have been making payments on their student loan debt for 20 years or more, graduate student borrowers who have paid on their student loan debt for 25 years or more and those borrowers whose educational institutions engaged in fraudulent practices or lost federal funding. The plan also addresses borrowers experiencing hardship due to medical or child care expenses. The Department of Education has not yet determined how those borrowers would be identified, but the agency is considering automatic forgiveness for those at risk of defaulting.

 

The Biden administration recalibrated its approach to align with legal parameters established by the Supreme Court. Following the Court's rejection of a $400 billion relief proposal under the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act, the administration devised a new strategy tailored to the provisions of the Higher Education Act. By focusing on specific subsets of borrowers rather than pursuing blanket forgiveness, the administration narrowly tailored its plan to navigate within the confines of existing legislation and not overreach its authority. The Biden administration’s overreach was the basis of the Supreme Court’s rejection of President Biden’s first student debt relief plan.

 

Though the plan was announced, the Biden administration has not yet published the plan in the Federal Register. Once published and after the close of the comment period, the administration believes that it will be able to begin implementation of the plan in the fall, barring any delays or legal challenges.

 

Canadian Oral Health Providers Negotiate Fees Under Federal Dental Plan

 

Associations representing Canadian oral health providers have reimbursement rates under the with the Canadian federal government. Many oral health providers in the country believe are too low and have indicated a reluctance to participate in the program, but Health Minister Mark Holland has stated that the rates are fair.

 

According to a survey issued by the Canadian Dental Association, 61% of dentists have indicated they do not plan to participate in the program. However, Minister Holland that dental providers will not have to sign up for the plan as initially proposed. They’ll also be permitted to charge the difference between the full price of a procedure and the rate reimbursed under the plan.

 

Nearly 1.6 million people have signed up for the program that initially opened to children under 12 whose families earned less than $90,000 CAD in 2023. The program is currently in the process of a gradual rollout that will eventually expand coverage by 2025 to all income-eligible Canadians who lack dental insurance. Coverage will also require a co-pay of 40% for those with family incomes between $70,000 – $79,999 CAD, and a 60% co-pay for individuals with family incomes are between $80,000 – $89,999 CAD.

 

Virginia Passes Law Requiring Patient Counseling Before Prescribing Opioids

 

On April 4, Virginia Gov. Glenn Younkin (R) signed legislation that will require prescribers to counsel patients before issuing prescription for any opioid to treat acute or chronic pain. Specifically, the bill requires the Virginia Board of Dentistry and other specified health boards to promulgate regulations that require practitioners to provide patients with information regarding:

  • The risks of addiction and overdose associated with opioids and the dangers of taking opioids with alcohol, benzodiazepines, and other central nervous system depressants;
  • The reasons the prescription is necessary;
  • Alternative treatments that may be available; and
  • Risks associated with the use of the drugs being prescribed, specifically that opioids are highly addictive, even when taken as prescribed. There is a risk of developing a physical or psychological dependence on the controlled dangerous substance, and that the risks of taking more opioids than prescribed—or mixing sedatives, benzodiazepines or alcohol with opioids—can result in fatal respiratory depression.

The bill includes exceptions to the patient counseling requirement for patients who are undergoing long-term care for specified conditions.

 
Kansas Becomes Sixth State to Join Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact

 

On April 12, Kansas became the sixth state to join the .

 

Once enacted by seven states, the compact will create a pathway to licensure portability for dentists and dental hygienists who are licensed in member states. Licensees who live in states that are compact members can apply for a “compact privilege” that will allow them to practice in another member state. Under the that was written by The Council for State Governments, license holders will be granted the opportunity to apply for compact privilege if they do the following:

  • Hold a license as a dentist or dental hygienist;
  • Graduate from a Commission on Dental Accreditation-accredited program;
  • Successfully complete a clinical assessment for licensure, with “clinical assessment” currently defined as an examination or process required for licensure as a dentist or dental hygienist, as applicable, that provides evidence of clinical competence in dentistry or dental hygiene;
  • Have passed a National Board Examination of the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations or another examination accepted, by rule, as a requirement for licensure;
  • Meet any jurisprudence requirements;
  • Complete a criminal background check;
  • Submit an application and pay applicable fees; and
  • Comply with requirements to submit specified information for administrative purposes.

The compact has also been adopted by , , , and . As of April 15, .

 
ADEA, AADOCR and Friends of NIDCR Members Unite on Advocacy Day to Champion Oral Health and Dental Education on Capitol Hill

 

Last week, ADEA held its annual Advocacy Day. The event was done in conjunction with American Association of Dental, Oral and Craniofacial Research (AADOCR) and Friends of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research Institute (NIDCR). Advocacy Day was widely attended with participants ranging from dental school faculty to allied oral health faculty, from oral health researchers to dental and allied oral health students. Participants attended over 45 meetings with members of the U.S. House of Representatives and 39 meetings with members of the U.S. Senate.

 

Participants advocated for $46 million dollars in funding for Title VII Oral Health Workforce funding, $559 million in funding for NIDCR, $51.3 billion for the National Institutes of Health and $36 million in funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

 

They also advocated for two bills. Attendees asked the Senate to pass S.2891 or Action for Dental Health Act. This bill would authorize $13.9 million annually from fiscal year (FY) 2024 through FY 2028 for the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Oral Health Workforce grants, which provide funding to states to develop and implement innovative programs to address dental workforce shortages in areas facing a shortage of dental health providers. The bill passed out of the U.S. House of Representatives with bipartisan support in March 2024. The other bill advocated for in the House was H.Res.1078, which was a resolution recognizing NIDCR’s 75th anniversary and its critical role in improving the dental, oral and craniofacial health of the United States through research, training and the dissemination of health information.

 

Please look for our announcement regarding our 2025 Advocacy Day in January 2025. We look forward to seeing you next year!

 

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.

 

©2024

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 Senior Director of State Relations and Advocacy

 

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