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American Dental Education Association

Volume 2, No. 3, March 30, 2021

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

  • NIDCR on proposed concept presented at the January 2021 NIDCR meeting
  • NHSC Service Loan Repayment Program and application
  • ADEA regarding vaccines at the state level
  • NIH "Understanding and Addressing the Impact of Structural Racism and Discrimination on Minority Health and Health Disparities"
  • NIH "Academic-Industrial Partnerships for Translation of Technologies for Diagnosis and Treatment"
  • For a full list of ADEA memos and letters click .
Update on Licensure Portability

 

On March 19, the State Legislature sent a bill to Gov. Tate Reeves (R) that would increase licensure portability in the state. Similar to recently created laws in other states, the bill would require licensing boards to grant a license to numerous licensed professionals, including dentists and dental hygienists, who establish residency in the state and who have held licenses that are in good standing in another jurisdiction for at least one year. In addition to establishing residency, an applicant for licensure by reciprocity cannot have faced or be facing specified discipline or complaints. Current state law already extends this courtesy to members of the military, military spouses and their dependents.

 

Similar bills have been proposed in , and . The bill in West Virginia passed the state’s House of Delegates in late February and passed a Senate committee vote on March 22.

 

In recent years, similar bills have passed in , and , but unlike in Arizona and Iowa, Missouri law does not require an applicant to be a resident of the state.
Applications for the 2021 Dental Faculty Loan Repayment Program Now Open

 

Last week, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) began accepting applications for the fiscal year 2021 Dental Faculty Loan Repayment Program. The application period closes on April 19, 2021.

 

This program will increase the number of dental and dental hygiene faculty in the workforce. Grantees will create and manage a loan repayment program for individuals who serve as full-time dental faculty.

 

More information about the program and its eligibility requirements can be found at the . Please note that these grants are available to only Commission on Dental Accreditation-accredited training institutions, not individuals.

 

Next month at the 2021 ADEA Virtual Capitol Hill Day, AGR will advocate for continued funding for this and the many other Title VII Oral Health Programs. Registration for this year’s Virtual Hill Day can be found on the .

West Virginia on Verge of Allowing Telehealth Across State Lines

 

On March 22, the West Virginia Senate that would allow out-of-state health care providers to practice telehealth in the state, provided the practitioner holds a license in the state in which they are currently located that is in good standing.

 

Under the bill, in order to practice in West Virginia, a health care provider would need to register as an interstate telehealth practitioner with the appropriate licensing board in their state. The bill also clarifies that registered out-of-state practitioners are subject to the applicable laws of West Virginia, and the jurisdiction of the licensing board that oversees the practice of their profession. Additionally, the bill also eliminates a prohibition of prescribing schedule II drugs through telehealth.

 

Different versions of the bill have passed both the House of Delegates and Senate. Both chambers will need to pass the same version before the bill can be sent to the Governor.

Senate Confirms Rachel Levine, First Openly Transgender Assistant Health Secretary

 

The U.S. Senate confirmed Dr. Rachel Levine as the Assistant Secretary for Health. Two Republicans, U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), joined Democrats to confirm Assistant Secretary Levine in a 52 to 48 vote. Dr. Levine becomes the highest-ranking, openly transgender official in U.S. history.

 

Prior to her nomination, Dr. Levine was Pennsylvania’s state health secretary, the top health official in the state. She has also been Pennsylvania’s physician general and held senior medical positions at the Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.

 

Assistant Secretary Levine replaces Dr. Brett Giroir, who formerly held the position during the Trump administration. Like Dr. Giroir, Dr. Levine will likely play a key role in the nation’s pandemic response. This position is also responsible for overseeing the Surgeon General.

Maryland Senate Passes Bill Requiring Dental Coverage for Pregnant and Postpartum People

 

On March 18, the Maryland Senate that requires the state’s Medicaid program to provide dental coverage for pregnant and postpartum people up to one year after the pregnancy. If the bill becomes law, individuals whose family income is at or below 250% of the federal poverty level will be eligible for coverage. The bill also adds medical coverage for postpartum people up to one year after the pregnancy. The legislation will now be sent the state’s of House of Delegates for consideration.
Registration Is Open for the ADEA 2021 Virtual Capitol Hill Day
 

Join the American Dental Education Association (ADEA)―The Voice of Dental Education, on Wednesday, April 28 for the !

 

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, congressional offices are currently closed to the public, but you can still meet with your Representatives and Senators during this important event.

 

Taking place just before Congress considers fiscal year 2022 appropriations, the 2021 ADEA Virtual Capitol Hill Day is the opportune time to provide information to elected officials on programs that could affect you, your institution and the dental professions.

 

. Connect virtually with Members of Congress on issues that are vital to academic dentistry, including increased federal funding for the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), Title VII oral health training programs, and student loan forgiveness.

 

. Once registered, you will receive information regarding our upcoming advocacy training session to prepare you for your meetings with Members of Congress and their staff.

 

Mark your calendar and . We’ll see you on April 28!

The 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.

 

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American Dental Education Association

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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

 

Higher Logic