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American Dental Education Association

Volume 2, No. 50, April 20, 2022

Now Available: ADEA Update to Summary of Legislation and Regulations Addressing Prescription Drug and Opioid Abuse
 
ADEA released an update to ADEA Summary of State Legislation and Regulations Addressing Prescription Drug and Opioid Abuse [ [link removed] ] . This update is a result of the annual review and compilation conducted by ADEA staff that summarizes all recently passed legislation and regulations intended to address prescription drug and opioid abuse. The summary [ [link removed] ] provides a brief overview of state policies enacted in 2021 so that dental professionals can stay up to date on recent changes to laws and regulations that affect opioid-prescribing practices while receiving the latest information on other changes to opioid policy that are relevant to academic dentistry.
 
To view recently proposed and enacted legislative and regulatory changes that would impact opioid policy, please visit the ADEA U.S. Interactive Legislative and Regulatory Tracking Map [ [link removed] ] and select “Opioids” from the menu. Information on the ADEA interactive map is updated daily.

Biden Administration Extends Public Health Emergency for 90-days
 
On April 12, the Biden administration extended [ [link removed] ] the U.S. coronavirus public health emergency (PHE) for an additional 90 days. It is now set to expire in mid-July.
 
The extension of the PHE continues a range of health benefits for the American public, including free access to COVID-19 tests, vaccines and telehealth services. It allows hospitals to continue receiving a 20% increase in Medicare payment rates for treating COVID-19 patients.
 
The PHE also leaves in place the Medicaid-eligibility flexibilities that allows beneficiaries to stay in the program without going through the usual paperwork and checks for changes in eligibility status.

U.S. Department of Education Gives Student Borrowers in Default a Fresh Start
 
The U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced [ [link removed] ] that in addition to extending the student loan payment pause, ED would also mark as “current” the accounts of all borrowers currently in default.
 
Borrowers who are delinquent or in default on their federal student loans will be granted a “fresh start” on repayment, allowing them to reenter repayment in September 2022 in good standing. ED will also report the previously delinquent or defaulted accounts to credit bureaus as being in “good standing.”
 
Currently, Americans owe close to $1.7 trillion in student loan debt. Ten million of those borrowers are estimated to be in delinquency or default.

Grant Announcement
 
The Department of Health and Human Services has announced the availability of a grant designed “to train 13,000 community health workers, increasing access to care, improving public health emergency response, and addressing the public health needs of underserved communities” through the Community Health Worker Training Program. HHS intends to provide training for 13,000 community health workers through 75 expected grant awards. The application period is now open and closes June 14, 2022. Additional information can be found here [ [link removed] ] , and entities can apply here [ [link removed] ] .

Expanded Function Dental Hygienist Bill Heads to Maryland Governor
 
Earlier this month, the Maryland General Assembly voted in favor of legislation [ [link removed] ] that would certify and regulate the position of expanded function dental assistant (EFDA). If signed into law, EFDAs who meet training requirements would have the opportunity to earn certification that would allow them to perform one or more specified intraoral procedures. Additionally, the bill clarifies procedures EFDAs are permitted to perform without certification. Training requirements to earn certifications include:
 • Graduating high school or attaining high school equivalency;
 • Successfully completing training approved by the Maryland State Board of Dental Examiners related to the intraoral procedure for which an applicant has applied;
 • Obtaining appropriate certification from Dental Assisting National Board; and
 • Submitting to a state criminal background check.

Virginia and Florida Enact New Licensure Laws
 
This year, licensure continues to be a hot topic in legislatures across the country, and in two states significant changes to licensure for oral health professionals were recently signed into law.
 
On April 7, Virginia [ [link removed] ] Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) signed a bill that would allow the Virginia Board of Dentistry to grant a faculty license to a graduate of a foreign dental school without examination, provided the applicant has been granted a certification letter from the dean or program director of an accredited dental program confirming the applicant has clinical competency and clinical experience that meet the credentialing requirements.
 
In Florida [ [link removed] ] , Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) signed a bill that would require candidates for initial licensure as dentists or dental hygienists to demonstrate clinical skills on a manikin rather than a live patient. Specifically, dentists would be required to perform restorations and demonstrate periodontal skills on a manikin that has typodont teeth as approved by the Commission on Dental Competency Assessments (CDCA). Teeth used for restorations would simulate caries, while those used for periodontal skills would simulate calculus. Dental hygienists would be required to demonstrate clinical skills on a manikin that has typodont teeth with simulated dentition and calculus as approved by CDCA.

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 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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