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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 . 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. 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 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 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) 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 , and entities can .

Expanded Function Dental Hygienist Bill Heads to Maryland Governor

 

Earlier this month, the Maryland General Assembly 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, 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 , 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
  • 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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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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