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American Dental Education Association


Volume 3, No. 44, May 29, 2024

Sen. Cassidy Wants Review and Modernization of NIH
 
U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) is poised to lead the Senate committee overseeing the National Institutes of Health (NIH) if the Republicans win the Senate in the 2024 election. Cassidy recently released a white paper [ [link removed] ] advocating for a comprehensive review and modernization of the agency's operations and practices. This initiative, which Cassidy believes is long overdue, aims to address various aspects, including:
 • Maintaining a balanced research portfolio;
 • Streamlining the peer-review process;
 • Tackling recruitment and retention challenges in the biomedical workforce;
 • Fostering collaboration with other entities;
 • Enhancing transparency; and
 • Establishing mechanisms for public feedback.

NIH plays a significant research role as the world's leading biomedical research funder with a $47 billion dollar budget and 27 institutes and centers. Any reform efforts impacting NIH could have a considerable impact on current and future medical and scientific research.

Biden Administration Announces Expansion of Health Coverage to DACA Recipients
 
The Biden administration released a final rule [ [link removed] ] to expand access to the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) Insurance Market Exchanges to include Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients. The final rule would amend the definition of “lawful presence,” for purposes of coverage under the ACA, to include DACA recipients. This amended definition would be applicable to eligibility for enrollment in a Qualified Health Plan through the Health Insurance Marketplace and a Basic Health Program (BHP). Moreover, those who are eligible for enrollment under the amended definition would also be eligible to receive financial assistance (e.g. premium subsidies and cost-sharing reductions).
 
For now, the administration is not finalizing a definition of “lawfully present” for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) under section 214 of the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 (CHIPRA 214 option).
 
However, the final rule does update the definition of “qualified noncitizen” for Medicaid and CHIP, which clarifies the categories of noncitizens that states must cover in these programs. In finalizing the definition, the rule implements existing statutory requirements and is intended to promote clarity and transparency that will support states’ implementation of eligibility policies, training and accurate eligibility determinations for noncitizens.
 
Though they will likely be unable to receive Medicaid or CHIP, DACA recipients and others who are eligible will be able to access health coverage through the health insurance marketplace.
 
The administration believes this rule could lead to 100,000 previously uninsured DACA recipients having access to health coverage through a Marketplace plan or a BHP.
 
The final rule goes into effect on Nov. 1, 2024. The administration has also released a fact sheet [ [link removed] ] in conjunction with the final rule’s release.

Alabama Invests in Rural Dentistry
 
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey (R) signed two bills that will provide funding for a rural dental residency program and scholarships for dentists, respectively. HB 144 [ [link removed] ] will provide $5 million to the state’s Department of Public Health to coordinate with University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry for the establishment of a North Alabama rural dental clinic residency program. HB 145 [ [link removed] ] will provide approximately $870,000 for scholarships for students who intend to work in rural areas. Of that funding, $140,000 will be allocated to the Rural Dental Scholars Program [ [link removed] ] —a program that works to recruit and assist rural Alabama college students who want to become dentists and practice in the state’s rural communities. Out of the remaining funds, $500,000 will be required to go to the Alabama Board of Dental Scholarships Program [ [link removed](qualifying%20counties%20below). ] , which provides candidates an upfront award of $180,000 in return for at least four years of service in an Alabama small town or rural community in need of a dental professional.

Eighth and Possibly Ninth State to Join Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact
 
On May 17, Colorado became the eighth state to join the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact [ [link removed] ] when Gov. Jared Polis (D) signed legislation [ [link removed] ] authorizing the state to join the compact. Similar legislation was sent to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) on May 19. Gov. Walz, who is expected to sign the bill [ [link removed] ] .
 
The compact is currently in the implementation phase. Participating states can take steps toward forming the Compact Commission, which will oversee the compact's implementation. Each participating state will have one commissioner selected by each state’s licensing authority.
 
Following implementation, 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 model compact [ [link removed] ] 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;
 • Pass 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 Iowa [ [link removed] ] , Kansas [ [link removed] ] , Tennessee [ [link removed] ] , Maine [ [link removed] ] , Virginia [ [link removed] ] , Washington [ [link removed] ] and Wisconsin [ [link removed] ] . Legislation to adopt the compact is also active in four other states [ [link removed] ] .

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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.
 
©2024
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 Senior Director of State Relations and Advocacy
 
Contact Us:
[email protected] [ mailto:[email protected] ]

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