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American Dental Education Association

Volume 2, No. 31, November 10, 2021

CMS and DOL Issue Emergency COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements
 
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released an emergency interim final rule [ [link removed] ] requiring health care workers at facilities participating in the Medicare or Medicaid programs to receive a COVID-19 vaccination. According to CMS [ [link removed] ] , “[f]acilities covered by this regulation must establish a policy ensuring all eligible staff have received the first dose of a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine or a one-dose COVID-19 vaccine prior to providing any care, treatment, or other services by December 5, 2021. All eligible staff must have received the necessary shots to be fully vaccinated—either two doses of Pfizer or Moderna or one dose of Johnson & Johnson—by January 4, 2022.”
 
Exemptions to the regulation based on medical conditions or religious beliefs can be granted.
 
Shortly after CMS issued its emergency regulation, the Department of Labor (DOL) issued a similar one. DOL’s interim final rule [ [link removed] ] applies to employers with over 100 employees. This regulation requires employers to decide whether they will require all employees to obtain a vaccine or whether they will establish a weekly testing protocol for unvaccinated employees. Unvaccinated employees would also be required to wear masks while at work. Employers would not be required to pay for the weekly testing or to provide masks. Under the DOL rule, employers must comply with most requirements within 30 days of publication (by Dec. 5) and must comply with testing requirements within 60 days of publication (by Jan 4).
 
Both regulations require employers to obtain proof of vaccination from employees. Interim final rules are effective upon publication, and both rules were published on Nov. 5. However, both CMS and DOL will have comment periods associated with these regulations.

House Subcommittee Marks Up Health Care Bills
 
The U.S. House of Representative’s Energy and Commerce Committee’s Health Subcommittee marked-up several health care-related bills last week, three of which impact the dental community:
 • The Oral Health Literacy and Awareness Act of 2021 (H.R. 4555 [ [link removed] ] ) was introduced by U.S. Reps. Tony Cárdenas (D-Calif.) and Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.). This bill would authorize a public education campaign across all relevant programs of the Health Resources and Services Administration to increase oral health literacy and awareness.
 • The Public Health Workforce Loan Repayment Act of 2021 (H.R. 3297 [ [link removed] ] ) was introduced by U.S. Reps. Jason Crow (D-Colo.), Michael Burgess, M.D., (R-Texas), Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.) and Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.). This bill would establish a student loan repayment program for public health professionals. As a condition of participation, recipients must agree to complete a period of full-time employment with a state, tribal or local public health agency for at least three years.
 • The Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act (H.R. 1667 [ [link removed] ] ) was introduced by U.S. Rep. Susan Wild (D-Pa.). This legislation would require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to conduct a campaign to encourage health care providers to seek support and treatment for mental and behavioral health concerns and disseminate best practices to prevent suicide and improve mental health and resiliency among health care providers. In addition, HHS would award grants to health care providers, including medical professional associations for programs to support mental health and behavioral health needs among health care providers. Finally, the legislation requires HHS to study, develop and submit policy recommendations to Congress on policies to improve health care professional mental health and prevent burnout.

Task Force on Oral Health in Maryland Begins Work
 
This summer, the Maryland General Assembly passed legislation [ [link removed] ] creating the state’s Task Force on Oral Health in Maryland [ [link removed] ] to identify and examine barriers to access to dental care and make recommendations for improving access. While the Task Force is required to identify access barriers for all residents, they are also required to do so with a focus on the socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, age and disability.
 
In October, the Task Force held its second meeting and took several steps toward fulfilling its legislatively mandated assignment of issuing a report by December 2022. At the meeting, Task Force members heard from experts [ [link removed] ] on the condition of oral health in the state. Topics addressed included Medicaid reimbursement and recommendations to increase access to care from the Maryland Dental Action Committee. Additionally, the Task Force discussed and accepted a work plan [ [link removed] Health Task Force Workplan_Draft_10.21.21.pdf ] that established regular meetings, preliminary focuses of inquiry and resources for the Task Force.

Iowa Dental Board to Convene Task Force to Address Dental Hygienists and Dental Assistants Shortage
 
The Iowa Dental Board announced [ [link removed] ] that it will convene a task force to address recent shortages of dental hygienists and dental assistants [ [link removed] ] . The Dental Board anticipates holding three to four Zoom meetings in November and December. It is seeking input from:
 • Dentists from each of the Iowa Dental Association’s district dental societies, particularly those who work with dental assistants who enter the profession through on-the-job training;
 • Dental assistants from rural communities who entered the profession through on-the-job training;
 • Dental assistants from rural communities who entered the profession through a formal course of study; and
 • Dental hygienists from rural communities.

Those interested in participating in the Zoom meetings are asked to email [email protected] [ [link removed] ] by Oct. 28. Emails should include your name, where you practice and which category listed above applies to you.

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
 • Provider Relief Fund Reporting portal [ [link removed] ]
 • ADEA memo [ [link removed] ] regarding vaccines at the state level
 • ADEA report [ [link removed] ] on teledentistry
 • ADEA report [ [link removed] ] on the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on U.S. Dental Schools
 • ADEA policy brief [ [link removed] ] regarding overprescription of antibiotics
 • For a full list of ADEA memos, briefs and letters click here [ [link removed] ] .

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.
 
©2021
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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