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American Dental Education Association

Volume 2, No. 5, April 13, 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

  • 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"
  • NIDCR "Behavioral and Social Intervention Clinical Trial Planning and Implementation Cooperative Agreement"
  • For a full list of ADEA memos and letters click .
HHS Expands COVID-19 Vaccine Program to All Federal Health Centers

 

Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra announced that all federally qualified health centers (FQHC) and health center program look-alikes can now participate in the . With this expansion, 1,470 health centers have been invited to participate in the program. The health centers currently participating have ordered more than 2.5 million vaccine doses.

 

The push to deliver vaccines to FQHCs aligns with President Biden’s efforts to equitably distribute and vaccinate underserved communities and other communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. FQHCs serve the vital function of filling the health care gaps in many underserved or rural localities, delivering culturally appropriate care on a no- or low-cost basis.

Tennessee Votes to Lift Restrictions That Prevent Oral Health Program Affiliates From Serving on Dental Board

 

On April 7, the Tennessee Senate passed that would allow people affiliated with educational institutions where the practice of dentistry, dental hygiene and dental assisting are taught to serve on the state’s dental board. The bill passed the House on April 1 and will now be sent to the Governor. Current law in the state prohibits people with such affiliations from serving on the dental board, but if the bill is signed into law, that restriction will be removed.
DoD Repeals Trump Era Rules, Allows Transgendered Service Members to Openly Serve

 

Last week, the Pentagon on transgendered service members instituted by the Trump administration. The repeal ends discrimination against transgendered service members. It follows a two-month review by the Pentagon in response to President Biden’s Jan. 25 , which barred the discharge of any transgender service members based on gender identity. The new regulations go into effect in 30 days.

 

The repeal restores the Obama-era policy that was in place prior to the Trump administration’s repeal. The new policy permits troops to serve openly under their self-identified gender and will allow service members to access medical treatments for gender transition. In conjunction with the policy change, the Department of Defense will also review the records of troops who were discharged or denied the chance to re-enlist because of gender identity issues under the previous policy.
Iowa Bill Would Require Public Water Suppliers to Provide Notice Before Discontinuing Fluoride

 

Both chambers of the Iowa legislature passed different versions of that would require owners or operators of public water supply systems to provide notification prior to permanently discontinuing fluoridation in their water supplies. Under the bill, a water supplier must notify their customers and the state’s at least 90 days prior to taking any action to permanently discontinue fluoridation. As a requirement for notifying customers, the water supplier would provide notice on each customer’s water bill or provide notice in a way that is reasonably calculated so that all customers will receive the notice.

 

Both chambers must vote in favor of the same version of the bill before it can be sent to the governor.

 

A similar bill was passed in Texas in 2019.
Indiana Passes Bill That Would Allow Dentists to Administer Vaccines

 

The Indiana General Assembly will soon send to Gov. Eric Holcomb (R) that would allow a dentist who has completed required training to administer to individuals age 11 or older any immunization recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. While a handful of states allow dentists to administer vaccines for influenza or COVID-19, if signed into law, Indiana would join as the only other state in the country that gives dentists broad authority to administer vaccines.

 

In addition to allowing dentists to administer vaccines, the bill also makes changes to notification and information requirements for insurers when making payments to dentists using electronic funds transfer.

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

 

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