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American Dental Education Association

Volume 2, No. 11, May 25, 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
  • ADEA on the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on U.S. Dental Schools
  • ADEA policy regarding overprescription of antibiotics
  • For a full list of ADEA memos, briefs and letters click .
Senate Holds Hearing on the Need to Strengthen the Health Care Workforce

 

The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security held a hearing titled, “.” The hearing was chaired by U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.) and Ranking Member U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and focused on the critical need to increase, support and strengthen the health care workforce, especially in rural and underserved areas, as well as suggestions to resolve these problems. The hearing and the witness testimony is available .

 

U.S. Sen. Sanders focused on the need to increase the number of health care professionals in general, but more specifically, he stressed the need for primary care physicians. U.S. Sen. Collins also noted the need to increase the overall health care workforce, but she highlighted the need to increase the health care workforce in rural and underserved areas. Both senators and witnesses agreed that the nation needs more medical professionals and health care professional schools need more Graduate Medical Education slots and general support to attract and retain faculty, such as increases in the faculty repayment programs and increases in funding to support faculty salary increases.

The Department of Education Announces A Virtual Public Hearing on Title IX

 

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) it will conduct a virtual, multi-day public hearing to gather input on improving enforcement of the Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. The hearing, which is being held in accordance with ED’s planned review of current Title IX regulations, stems from President Biden’s on Guaranteeing an Educational Environment Free from Discrimination on the Basis of Sex, Including Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity that he signed on March 8. The order explicitly directed ED to evaluate Title IX regulation changes implemented during the Trump administration to determine if they are inconsistent with the Biden administration’s policies.

 

The hearing is also in line with the Biden administration’s overarching policy towards gender, gender identity and sexual orientation that was set out in Biden's on Preventing and Combating Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation. The order’s policy directive was “to prevent and combat discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation, and to fully enforce Title VII and other laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation,” according to the executive order. “It is also the policy of my Administration to address overlapping forms of discrimination.”

 

ED is holding the hearing as a fact-finding effort to hear from all stakeholders impacted by Title IX and to get their input on any changes to Title IX regulations that are needed. The virtual public hearing will be held from June 7 to June 11. The provides details regarding the hearing, including information about how members of the public can participate and how they can view the hearing.
CDC Approves Use of Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine for Ages 12 to 15

 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use authorization for children ages 12 to 15. Data from recent clinical trials support the safety and efficacy of the vaccine in this age group. where 2,260 children ages 12 to 15 participated. Of the clinical trial participants, there were 18 cases of symptomatic coronavirus infection in the placebo group and no infections in the group that received the vaccine. Participants experienced side effect symptoms similar to the adult population. However, a higher percentage of children experienced fevers as a side effect than the adults did.

 

Children comprise 20% of the American population. The use of the Pfizer vaccine in children further encourages the nationwide reopening of schools and moves the nation closer to herd immunity.

Georgia Temporarily Permits Manikin Exams for Initial Licensure

 

On May 6, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) issued an that suspends rules requiring candidates for dental licensure to pass initial licensure exams performed on human subjects or on manikin-based typodonts using dental virtual-haptic machine simulation. Under the order, applicants for licensure will be permitted to submit results from either the Central Regional Dental Testing Service or American Board of Dental Examiners manikin-based typodont examinations, conducted with or without the use of virtual haptic machine simulation, taken on or after Jan. 1, 2021.

 

The executive order will expire when the public health state of emergency is terminated or ceases to be renewed.

Louisiana House Passes Bill to Provide Medicaid Dental Coverage to Adults with Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities

 

On May 18, the Louisiana House of Representatives that would provide comprehensive dental coverage to adults enrolled in a Medicaid waiver program for persons with developmental and intellectual disabilities. The bill lists a comprehensive set of services the program would be required to cover and stipulates that coverage would not begin until funding has been provided by the Louisiana State Legislature, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services approves the coverage. Louisiana for adults enrolled in Medicaid.

 

The bill has been sent to the State Senate for consideration.

North Carolina House Passes Bill Requiring Health Benefit Plans to Provide Coverage for Dental Procedures That Result From Cancer Treatment

 

Earlier this month, the North Carolina House of Representatives that requires every health benefit plan in the state to provide coverage for medically necessary dental procedures that are the direct or indirect result of cancer treatments, including chemotherapy, biotherapy or radiation therapy. The bill requires the coverage to include evaluations and examinations, laboratory assessments, medications and treatments associated with the medically necessary dental procedures resulting from cancer treatment.

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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