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American Dental Education Association


Volume 3, No. 62, December 10, 2024

U.S. Supreme Court Hears Oral Argument on Tennessee’s Transgender Law
 
The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in United States v. Skrmetti [ [link removed] ] involving Tennessee's law that bans certain medical treatments for transgender children, such as puberty blockers, hormones and surgery. The law only applies to transgender minors, and the justices will decide whether it violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution by discriminating based on sex. The Biden administration, along with parents and civil rights groups, argues that the law unfairly targets transgender individuals, as it prevents medical treatments for transgender children while allowing similar treatments for children with other conditions, such as precocious puberty.
 
Tennessee officials argue that the law does not discriminate by sex but instead regulates medical procedures based on their intended purpose. They assert that the state has the right to regulate medical treatments for minors, particularly when it comes to assessing the risks and benefits of gender-affirming care. The state claims its goal is not to discriminate but to ensure that children are not subjected to irreversible medical procedures prematurely.
 
The case’s outcome could set a precedent for similar laws in other states and influence federal policies concerning transgender rights for both children and adults. If the Court upholds Tennessee's law, it could give Congress the authority to enact legislation restricting access to gender-affirming care. This could affect not only Tennessee but also other states, depending on how broadly the Court's decision is interpreted.

Health Insurance Marketplace Is on Track for Record High Enrollment
 
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) reports [ [link removed] ] that so far 5.3 million people have signed up for health insurance through the Marketplace. Of the 5.3 million people, 988,000 were new consumers who do not currently have health care coverage through the Marketplace and 4.4 million were existing consumers who have already returned to the Marketplace to select a plan for 2025.
 
During last year’s open enrollment period, 21.4 million people signed up for coverage, resulting in an uninsured rate of 8% [ [link removed](share%20of,2 ] . According to CMS, the Marketplace, which is open from Nov. 1, 2024 – Jan. 15, 2025, is on track for a record high number of enrollments.

Florida Rejects Waiver to Expand CHIP Program
 
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s (R) administration has made clear their intent to reject a federal waiver [ [link removed] ] that would allow the state to expand its Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), known as KidCare. The decision will delay implementation of an expansion that would increase eligibility to include families that earn up to 300% of the federal poverty level. The DeSantis administration did not agree to the Biden administration’s terms and conditions that were stipulated in the waiver, which included a requirement for the state to maintain continuous eligibility [ [link removed] ] of participants.
 
Continuous eligibility has recently become a contentious issue between the Biden administration and the state. Families enrolled in KidCare are required to pay a $20 monthly premium and are disenrolled if they fail to make a payment. The waiver includes a requirement to keep kids enrolled for at least one year, regardless of payment of the premium. The state of Florida has already unsuccessfully sued the Biden administration over a rule that required the state to maintain continuous eligibility that took effect Jan. 1, 2024.
 
The Florida Agency for Health Care Administration has sought a 30-day delay to review the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ terms.

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
 
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[email protected] [ mailto:[email protected] ]

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