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American Dental Education Association

Volume 2, No. 54, May 17, 2022

The Medicare for All Act of 2022 Introduced by Sen. Bernie Sanders Includes Dental Coverage
 
Last week, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) introduced his Medicare for All Act of 2022 [ [link removed] ] . The legislation would guarantee health care in the United States as a fundamental human right to all. Fourteen senators have cosponsored the bill and over 60 organizations, ranging from associations to unions to think tanks, have endorsed the bill.
 
The bill would be implemented over a four-year period and establishes a federally administered national health insurance program that would ensure quality and comprehensive health care to all. This would include dental care, vision coverage and hearing aids. There would be no out-of-pocket expenses, insurance premiums, deductibles or co-payments.
 
Sen. Sanders has released a fact sheet [ [link removed] ] highlighting certain aspects of his bill.

Congressional Tri-caucus Reintroduces the Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2022
 
U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Ill.) reintroduced H.R. 7585, the Health Equity and Accountability Act (HEAA) [ [link removed] ] . HEAA is a comprehensive bill focused on improving the health and well-being of all communities of color, including addressing persistent racial disparities in health and health care.
 
The Congressional Tri-Caucus, which includes the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, the Congressional Black Caucus and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, has introduced HEAA since 2003. U.S. Rep. Kelly introduced HEAA in her role as Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Health Braintrust.
 
HEAA addresses the intersection of health inequities with race and ethnicity, as well as immigration status, age, disability, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, language and socio-economic status.
 
The bill focuses on 10 main topics:
 • Data collection and reporting;
 • Culturally and linguistically appropriate health and health care;
 • Health workforce diversity;
 • Improving health care access and quality;
 • Improving health outcomes for women, children and families;
 • Mental health and substance use disorders;
 • Addressing high-impact minority diseases;
 • Health information technology;
 • Accountability and evaluation; and
 • Addressing social determinants and improving environmental justice.

HEAA is endorsed by more than 60 stakeholder groups representing a variety of health industry partners, patient advocates and diverse communities. It currently has 64 cosponsors.

Colorado Will Send Dental Therapy Bill to Governor
 
Both chambers of the Colorado General Assembly have voted in favor of legislation [ [link removed] ] that would allow dental therapists to practice in the state. If signed into law, the bill would establish requirements to qualify for licensure and requirements for dental therapists to practice under the supervision of a licensed dentist. The bill would require the first 1,000 hours after licensure to be under the direct supervision of a licensed dentist. After 1,000 hours, a licensed dental therapist would be permitted to practice under indirect supervision, pursuant to a written agreement between the dental therapist and the dentist.
 
Unlike several recently passed bills in other states, this bill does not include restrictions on locations where dental therapists are allowed to practice or requirements for dental therapists to serve traditionally underserved populations. Currently, at least 13 states [ [link removed] ] permit dental therapists to practice statewide or in a limited capacity.

New York Expands Dental Hygienists’ Ability to Administer Anesthesia
 
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) signed a bill [ [link removed] ] that will allow dental hygienists to provide nitrous oxide analgesia and monitor local infiltration anesthesia during dental procedures. Current state law limits dental hygienists to only using these techniques during dental hygiene procedures. Stated justification for the bill said, “the legislation will allow dental offices to function more efficiently, allowing dentists and dental hygienists to provide greater access to care.”

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
 • HRSA Rural Public [ [link removed] ] Health Workforce Training Network Technical Assistance Program
 • 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.
 
©2022
American Dental Education Association
655 K Street, NW, Suite 800
Washington, DC 20001
Tel: 202-289-7201
Website: www.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
 
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