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American Dental Education Association

Volume 2, No. 44, March 1, 2022
CDC Announces New Mask Guidelines

 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Feb. 25 to their mask guidelines. The changes are based on new strategies and metrics as the COVID-19 virus moves into the endemic phase.

 

Until now, the guidelines recommended facial coverings for individuals living in communities with substantial viral transmission. The new approach will consider case counts as well as data regarding hospitalizations and hospital capacity in the various communities. As a result, will no longer be advised to wear facial coverings in indoor public spaces.

 

This comes as many states and localities have already allowed their masking requirements to lapse as the surge in case counts from the Omicron variant dissipates and political leaders eye a return to normal.

House Energy and Commerce Committee Holds ARPA-H Hearing

 

The U.S. House of Representatives’ Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Health held a legislative hearing on one of the Biden administration’s top priorities: the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H). Under the Biden proposal, ARPA-H would be modeled after the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and would be charged with faster development of new treatments, diagnostics, cures and preventive measures to improve health. Specifically, ARPA-H will focus on diseases common to most Americans, such as cancer, Alzheimer’s and diabetes to name a few.

 

However, bipartisan support for ARPA-H is waning. reported that “the majority of Republicans in the House worry ARPA-H will become another slush fund for Fauci-minded scientists—unchecked scientists who will use more government money just to curate their public image rather than get results.”

 

Though the Democrats support ARPA-H’s creation, they disagree over where ARPA-H should be housed. Some believe it should it be housed within the National Institutes of Health (NIH), as the Biden administration and NIH prefer. Others believe it should it be a stand-alone agency under the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Those supporting housing ARPA-H within NIH are co-sponsoring the Cures 2.0 Act (). Those who support it being a stand-alone agency under HHS are co-sponsoring the ARPA-H Act ().

 

However, after the hearing, Democrats to resolve their differences over ARPA-H and to move the creation of ARPA-H forward.
Indiana Bill Would Prohibit Dental Plans From Setting Fees for Services Not Covered

 

On Feb. 22, the Indiana House passed a that prohibits dental plans from setting rates for services that are not covered by the plan. Specifically, the bill prohibits dental plans from directly or indirectly requiring providers to provide a service at a fee amount that is set by the dental plan or subject to approval of the dental plan, unless the dental service is a covered service. The bill also prohibits third-party administrators from arranging for a dental provider to provide services for a dental plan that sets the amount of the fee for any dental service that is not a covered service. Finally, the legislation authorizes the state’s insurance commissioner to issue a cease-and-desist order against anyone who violates the prohibitions and, if the person violates the cease-and-desist order, to impose a civil penalty and suspend or revoke the person’s certificate of authority.

 

The bill will be sent to the state Senate for consideration.

Medicaid Expansion May be Coming to North Carolina, South Dakota Lawmakers Vote Down Similar Proposal

 

An up or down vote on Medicaid expansion may take place in the legislature later this year—something the state’s Republican lawmakers have opposed in the past. While opposition is still strong among many of the state’s Republicans, more are coming around to the idea. The state’s held its first meeting on Feb. 18 to work through party differences and develop a plan that could become law. Committee Co-chair and State Rep. Donny Lambeth (R) told that he expected the Committee to develop legislation by August or September, and that he would like for votes to be taken before the state’s general elections are held in November.

 

Meanwhile, lawmakers in rejected a proposal for Medicaid expansion in their state. The rejection will now leave the question in the hands of voters who will decide in November whether their state should expand the program. While similar initiatives have been successful in other states, the ballot measure in South Dakota as voters will decide in June if the measure will require 60% of the vote in order to pass.

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
  • HRSA Dental Faculty Loan Repayment
  • HRSA New Funding
  • ADEA regarding vaccines at the state level
  • ADEA on teledentistry
  • 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 .

 

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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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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