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American Dental Education Association
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Volume 1, No. 62, May 20, 2020
CDC Issues Re-Opening Guidance
Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued “decision trees,” which serve as re-opening guidance for various sectors of the economy. Six decision trees, which are one-page documents, have been issued for schools [ [link removed] ] , workplaces [ [link removed] ] , camps [ [link removed] ] , child care programs [ [link removed] ] , mass transit systems [ [link removed] ] as well as bars and restaurants [ [link removed] ] .
The decision trees are in contrast to the 60+ page draft guidance [ [link removed] ] that the CDC had initially sent to the White House for review and approval. The decision trees were released one week after the White House ordered the CDC to revise an earlier draft it deemed too “strict and detailed.”
On May 12, the U.S. Senate’s Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee held a hearing on getting back to work and school safely. Dr. Robert Redfield, CDC Director, testified at the hearing. During the hearing [ [link removed] ] , Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) asked Dr. Redfield if the CDC would be issuing re-opening guidance for dental offices. Collins noted that the lack of specifics is troubling to dentists and could hamper their successful re-opening. Dr. Redfield responded that the CDC was working with the dental community to draft re-opening guidance and that the guidance would be released soon.
Missouri Passes Licensure Reciprocity Bill
On May 12, the Missouri General Assembly passed a bill [ [link removed] ] that would increase licensure portability in the state. Under the bill, licensing boards must waive any examination, educational or experience requirements for individuals who have held a license in another jurisdiction for at least one year, and if the license is in good standing, only if:
• The board determines there were minimum education, work experience and clinical supervision requirements in the other jurisdiction and
• The jurisdiction verifies that the person met those requirements.
The bill is similar to landmark legislation that became law in Arizona [ [link removed] ] last year, but unlike the Arizona law, the Missouri bill does not require applicants to be residents of the state in order to be granted a Missouri license. The bill’s sponsor [ [link removed] ] has stated this legislation could help the state mitigate potential medical professional shortages brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill will now be sent to Missouri Gov. Mike Parson (R) who has 15 days to sign, veto or allow the bill to become law without a signature.
Similar legislation [ [link removed] ] has been proposed in other states, including Iowa, Oklahoma, Ohio and Idaho.
Maryland Allows Dental Hygienists to Prescribe and Administer Medications in Limited Circumstances
On May 8, legislation [ [link removed] ] was enacted in Maryland that would grant dental hygienists limited prescribing authority. Under the bill, when practicing under the general supervision of a licensed dentist and while in compliance with any regulations adopted by the Maryland State Board of Dental Examiners, a dental hygienist will be permitted to prescribe topical and systematic types of prescription or over-the-counter fluoride preparations, topical antimicrobial oral rinses and ibuprofen, not to exceed 600 mg every six hours for three days after nonsurgical periodontal therapy. The bill also allows dental hygienists practicing under the general supervision of a licensed dentist to administer the medications they are permitted to prescribe, as well as premedication antibiotics, subgingival antibiotics and antimicrobials and nonopioid pain medication when following procedural guidelines established in the bill, and pursuant to a standing order authorized by a licensed dentist. The bill prohibits hygienists from prescribing or administering drugs classified as controlled dangerous substances and drugs that require registration with the Drug Enforcement Administration to prescribe.
ACLU Sues DeVos Over New Title IX Regulation
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed a lawsuit [ [link removed] ] against Education Secretary Betsy DeVos over the Department of Education’s (ED) recently released Title IX regulations. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of sexual harassment and assault victim advocacy groups, Know Your IX, the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, Girls for Gender Equity and Stop Sexual Assault in Schools.
This is the first of many expected lawsuits against ED’s new Title IX regulation.
“This new federal effort to weaken Title IX makes it more difficult for victims of sexual harassment or sexual assault to continue their educations and needlessly comes amid a global pandemic,” the ACLU claims in its lawsuit.
The lawsuit challenges [ [link removed] ] the regulation’s:
• New definition of sexual harassment and assault;
• Changes to the evidentiary standard for conviction offered as an option;
• Limitation of the university’s jurisdictional boundaries in terms of which cases it would have jurisdiction over; and
• Requirement that for sexual harassment or an assault case to be investigated, it must be reported to the “right” person as defined in the regulation.
In addition to challenging certain provisions of the regulation, the plaintiffs also want to block the implementation of the new regulations, which are set to go into effect by Aug. 14.
Louisiana May Require Some Higher Education Institutions to Create New Policies in Response to COVID-19
On May 11, the Louisiana Senate passed a bill [ [link removed] ] that would require state public institutions of higher education to address and minimize the negative impacts on students, faculty and employees that were the result of the public health emergency declared in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The policies may include, but are not limited to:
• Online and distance learning;
• Student housing and food services;
• Refund of tuition and fees;
• Faculty and employees working remotely;
• Cancellation or postponement of campus events;
• Commencement activities; and
• Regular communication with students, faculty and employees.
The legislation also suspends mandatory testing requirements for K-12 students and adjusts eligibility requirements for the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students, a state scholarship program. The bill will now be sent to the House for review.
ADEA State Calendar [ [link removed] ]
ADEA Washington Calendar [ [link removed] ]
ADEA U.S. Interactive Legislative and Regulatory Tracking Map [ [link removed] ]
Key Federal Issues [ [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.
©2020
American Dental Education Association
655 K Street, NW, Suite 800
Washington, DC 20001
202-289-7201, 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
Brian Robinson
ADEA Program Manager for Advocacy and Government Relations
[email protected] [ mailto:
[email protected]?subject=State%20Update%3A%20 ]
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