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American Dental Education Association


Volume 3, No. 60, November 27, 2024

Trump Nominates Dr. Mehmet Oz as CMS Administrator
 
President-elect Donald Trump has nominated physician and TV host Dr. Mehmet Oz to head the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), which oversees both health insurance programs.
 
More than 150 million Americans receive health care coverage from Medicare and Medicaid. Because the agencies buying power, it sets policy that guides the pricing of medical goods and services provided to Americans each day by physicians, hospitals and drug companies.
 
Dr. Mehmet Oz was born in Cleveland, Ohio to Turkish immigrant parents, but was raised in Wilmington, Delaware. After graduating from Harvard University, he earned an M.D. degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and an M.B.A. from the Wharton School of Business.
 
Oz subsequently conducted his residency in general surgery and cardiothoracic surgery at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center in New York. In 1993, he became an attending surgeon at New York– Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center. An advocate of alternative medicine, Oz began incorporating hypnosis, meditation, acupuncture, and other non-Western treatments into his practice. In 2001, he became director of the hospital’s complementary medicine program. That year he also became a professor of surgery at Columbia University.
 
In 2022, he ran unsuccessfully, as a Republican, against then Democratic Pennsylvania Lt. Governor, now Sen. John Fetterman to represent Pennsylvania in the U.S. Senate.
 
During and after the pandemic, Dr. Oz emerged as a vocal, conservative opponent against policies he believed limited one’s freedom during the Covid-19 outbreak. He was also a vocal supporter of now-discredited COVID-19 "treatments" such as hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine.

Linda McMahon Nominated as Secretary of Education
 
President-elect Donald J. Trump announced [ [link removed] ] on Tuesday that Linda McMahon, the Chair of the Board and Chair, Center for the American Worker of the America First Policy Institute was formerly a professional wrestling executive and was the Administrator of the Small Business Administration during his first term, would be nominated to lead the U.S. Department of Education (ED). McMahon is a close ally of the President-elect and a key member of his transition team. Although McMahon has no teaching background, she previously served on the Connecticut State Board of Education for just over a year and has an undergraduate degree from East Carolina University.
 
In his announcement, Trump emphasized his goal to return control of education back to the states, with McMahon spearheading that effort. Throughout her career, McMahon has been known for her strong leadership and business acumen. After leaving the SBA, she continued her political involvement by chairing the pro-Trump super PAC, America First Action, and later becoming chairwoman of the America First Policy Institute.
 
Her recent role at the America First Policy Institute [ [link removed] ] further shaped her approach to education policy. AFPI is an ideologically-leaning conservative think tank that has pushed for several major changes in federal policy, including limiting the promotion of what it sees as “inaccurate” teachings on American history, specifically stopping schools from “promoting inaccurate and unpatriotic concepts” about American history surrounding institutionalized racism, and expanding school voucher programs. These vouchers would allow parents to use public funds for home-schooling, online learning, or private and religious schools.
 
While Trump has voiced support for the dissolution of ED [ [link removed] ] , achieving this goal would require congressional action.

New York Authorizes RDAs and Nurses to Administer Topical Fluoride
 
Governor Kathy Hochul (D) has signed legislation (S.9308A [ [link removed] ] /A.7402B [ [link removed] ] ) to authorize registered dental assistants and licensed practical nurses to administer topical fluoride treatments, a proven method to prevent cavities and support pediatric oral health. This move aims to expand access to preventive dental care by increasing the number of licensed professionals qualified to provide fluoride varnishes. The law addresses disparities in care, particularly for underserved communities, by making appointments more accessible and efficient. State leaders [ [link removed] ] and health advocates celebrate this initiative as a significant step toward improving children’s oral and overall health.

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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