American Dental Education Association
Volume 1, No. 77, September 15, 2020
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.
Lost Clinic Revenue
Provider Relief Fund portal [ [link removed] ] and user guide [ [link removed] ]
August 11 – ADEA letter [ [link removed] ] regarding Dental School Clinic Reimbursement
May 1 – Joint letter [ [link removed] ] with the Partnership for Medicaid on fund reimbursement for Medicaid providers.
Other COVID Issues
Sep 4 – ADEA Comments [ [link removed] ] on Equitable Distribution of Vaccines
Aug 5 – Joint letter [ [link removed] ] regarding COVID-19 Loan Programs
July 29 – Joint letter [ [link removed] ] regarding Borrower Relief extension
Dental School COVID Related Capital Needs
Aug 5 – Joint letter [ [link removed] ] Regarding Institutional Aid
Additional Resources
ADEA webinar [ [link removed] ] on State Advocacy
NHSC Service Loan Repayment Program user guide [ [link removed] ] and application portal [ [link removed] ]
For a full list of ADEA Letters and Policy Memos, click here [ [link removed] ] .
ICE Reinstates March Guidance Prohibiting Certain New Students Entry
The Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement Agency (ICE) issued a press release [ [link removed] ] confirming its reinstatement of the March 9 policy directive [ [link removed] ] and the March 13 addendum [ [link removed] Guidance_3.13.20.pdf ] (collectively known as the March 2020 guidance), governing previously enrolled nonimmigrant student visas. The March 2020 guidance allows for online study for certain nonimmigrant student visa holders. The reinstatement of the March 2020 guidance replaces the July 6 directive [ [link removed] ] . The reinstatement was done in accordance with an agreement made in federal court between ICE and Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
On July 8, Harvard University and MIT filed a lawsuit [ [link removed] ] against ICE, arguing that the July 6 directive violated the Administrative Procedures Act and requesting a temporary restraining order. The parties reached an agreement that required ICE to rescind the July 6 directive and the July 7 Frequently Asked Questions, which provided additional explanation of the July 6 directive. The agreement also required a return to the status quo that was reflected in the March 2020 guidance and moot the motion for a temporary restraining order.
In the press release announcing the reinstatement of the March 2020 guidance, ICE noted that the March 2020 guidance applies to nonimmigrant students for the fall semester. The guidance applies to nonimmigrant students who were actively enrolled at a U.S. school on March 9 and are otherwise complying with the terms of their nonimmigrant status, whether from inside the United States or abroad. However, the guidance does not extend to nonimmigrant students who are “new” or “initial” students and who would be taking their classes 100% online while physically in the United States. These new or initial students would not be issued a visa for the fall semester.
It remains to be seen if schools will challenge the March 2020 guidance.
California Passes Protections for Student Loan Borrowers
California’s state legislature has passed a sweeping bill [ [link removed] ] to enact protections for student loan borrowers. AB 376 [ [link removed] ] , sometimes referred to as a student loan borrower “bill of rights,” will create a Student Borrower Ombudsman’s Office to review and act on complaints made by borrowers. The bill also includes provisions that restrict the practice of incorrectly directing borrowers into forbearance, create minimum servicing standards related to the application process and emphasize customer service training for staff involved in the borrowing process. Special protections have been included for military members and their families as well as teachers, nurses and the disabled community.
There has been significant attention drawn to shortcomings in the loan borrowing process during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Education has found significant issues [ [link removed] ] relating to the lack of oversight. While there has been concern about the authority of states to regulate student loan servicers who are working with the federal government, recent court rulings [ [link removed] ] have determined that states do have authority under state consumer protection statutes.
Maine Medicaid Program Announces $1 Million in Temporary Provider Incentive Payments for Child Treatment
Recently, Maine’s Medicaid program, MaineCare, announced [ [link removed] ] that it will distribute nearly $1 million in provider incentive payments for providers who offer well child visits, vaccinations and dental care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the plan, the state will provide additional per child funds of $37 for dental providers and $31 for primary care providers. According to the state’s Department of Health and Human Services, dental care for children declined this spring, and only 35% of children covered by MaineCare received preventive dental care. The additional funding is to be used to reach out to families, to provide comprehensive services and to support the increased costs of delivering care during the pandemic. The additional funds will be funded from September to December 2020 with existing MaineCare funds.
ED Announces Final Rule on Religious Liberty
On Sept. 9, the Department of Education (ED) announced [ [link removed] ] the publication of Executive Order 13864, Improving Free Inquiry, Transparency, and Accountability at Colleges and Universities final rule. The aim of the new rule [ [link removed] ] is to uphold religious liberty as protected under the First Amendment, ensure equal treatment of religious student organizations at public institutions and provide “clarity for faith-based institutions with respect to Title IX.” The final rule was published after more than 17,000 public comments were submitted and it focuses on four key areas:
• Implementation of Improving Free Inquiry, Transparency, and Accountability at Colleges and Universities, making compliance with First Amendment protections a condition for receiving ED grants;
• Clarification on how an educational institution can demonstrate that it is controlled by a religious organization for purposes of Title IX;
• Ensuring that religious student organizations receive equal treatment at public institutions; and
• Revisions to some regulations that impact discretionary grant programs under Titles III and V of the Higher Education Act.
The final rule will go into effect 60 days after publication.
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] [ [link removed] ]
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