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American Dental Education Association

Volume 2, No. 41, February 9, 2022

America COMPETES Act of 2022 Clears in the House
 
The America Creating Opportunities for Manufacturing Pre-Eminence in Technology and Economic Strength (America COMPETES) Act of 2022 (H.R. 4521 [ [link removed] ] ) passed out of the U.S. House of Representatives, primarily along party lines, by a vote of 220-210.The House will now proceed to conference the bill with its bipartisan, Senate-passed companion, the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act (USICA). The USICA was passed in November 2021.
 
The America COMPETES Act:
 • Authorizes a funding increase for the National Science Foundation (NSF) and for the establishment of a new NSF Technology Directorate,
 • Provides for immediate eligibility and exemptions from numerical limits for immigrant visa seekers with doctoral degrees from qualified institutions in STEM and
 • Lowers the threshold to $100,000 for the reporting of foreign gifts and contracts under Section 117 of the Higher Education Act.

The Senate passed bill has a $50,000 threshold for the reporting of foreign gifts and contracts under the Act. Both proposals would require certain institutions to set up a searchable database of foreign gifts and contracts received by individual faculty members.
 
Other provisions of the bill can be found online [ [link removed] ] .

ADEA Launches New Teledentistry Resource
 
ADEA is pleased to announce the release of a compilation of state teledentistry statutes and regulations. This new, first-of-its-kind resource [ [link removed] ] compiles state laws and regulations that are relevant to teledentistry, including those that address issues related to permissible practices, Medicaid reimbursement and private payer reimbursement.
 
Additionally, this new resource includes a chart that compares common state teledentistry/telehealth policies. This chart can be used as a companion to the compilations and as quick reference tool for those seeking a brief overview or comparison of permissible practices related to teledentistry in each state.
 
These materials can also be used as a companion to ADEA’s Policy Research Series report, Teledentistry: Innovation to Improving Access and Delivery to Oral Health Care Services in Dental Education [ [link removed] ] . This report outlines state regulations and reimbursement mechanisms for teledentistry, the role of teledentistry in minimizing oral health disparities through practice and dental education and teledentistry’s compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) for the prevention and treatment of oral health diseases. The report provides information about the benefits of including teledentistry in dental education and continuing to expand this important field.

Education Secretary Delivers His Vision for American Education
 
Last week, Miguel Cordorna, U.S. Secretary of the Department of Education (ED), gave a major address [ [link removed] ] where he laid out his vision for American education. Cordorna noted the efforts of the Biden-Harris administration to reopen K-12 education through the issuance of guidance by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and increasing the availability of tests and testing programs in schools.
 
The Secretary also discussed higher education. He asserted the administration’s plan to strengthen the pipeline between secondary and post-secondary education as well create pathways from post-secondary education to the workforce. Specifically, ED will do the following:
 • Make higher education more inclusive and affordable by
    a. Providing targeted loan relief to student borrowers,
    b. Holding colleges and universities accountable for taking advantage of borrowers,
    c. Ensuring borrowers have loan payment options that reflect their economic circumstances and
    d. Making long-term improvements to programs like the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program and creating a strong Gainful Employment Rule so career programs aren't leaving students with mountains of debt and without good job opportunities.

 • Ensure that pathways through higher education lead to successful careers by
    a. Reimagining the connection between pre-K-12, higher education and workforce;
    b. Collaborating with the Departments of Labor and Commerce to invest in career preparation programs that meet the needs of today’s economy;
    c. Prioritizing grant programs that allow students to return to higher education or pursue career and technical education programs at any point in their lives and careers; and
    d. Investing in colleges and universities that serve underrepresented groups and increase access to and funding for programs like Pell Grants.

Pair of Scope of Practice Bills Moving in Arizona
 
Two bills that would expand the scope of practice for two different groups of oral health care workers have passed the Arizona State Senate and have been sent to the state’s House of Representatives for consideration.
 
SB 1112 [ [link removed] ] would allow dental hygienists to establish a dental hygiene diagnosis and formulate a dental hygiene treatment plan as defined in the bill. The bill would also allow dental hygienists to prescribe, administer and dispense fluoride supplements, topically applied fluorides and non-systemic, oral antimicrobial agents that are not controlled substances. A written affiliated practice agreement would be required to include protocols for prescribing, administering and dispensing fluoride supplements, topically applied fluorides and non-systemic, oral antimicrobial agents.
 
SB 1074 [ [link removed] ] would allow dentists to administer botulinum toxin-type and dermal fillers to the oral maxillofacial complex for therapeutic or cosmetic purposes.

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] ]
 • HRSA Dental Faculty Loan Repayment Program [ [link removed] ]
 • HRSA New Funding Opportunity [ [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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