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American Dental Education Association

Volume 2, No. 71, October 11, 2022

House Republicans Release Their “Commitment to America” Policy Agenda for Next Congress
 
Promising “transparency, choice and competition,” Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives recently released their policy agenda [ [link removed] ] for next year. The Republican “Commitment to America [ [link removed] ] ” policy agenda contains four overarching goals: creating “an economy that's strong,” “a nation that's safe,” “a future that's built on freedom” and “a government that's accountable.”
 
The Republican health care platform includes lowering health care costs, improving access to telemedicine and promoting domestic manufacturing of medicines. Republicans assert that price transparency increases competition, which in turn, lowers health care costs. Therefore, during this Congress, much of their focus on transparency, choice and competition centered around their efforts to strengthen and codify regulations promulgated during the Trump administration, such as requiring hospitals to publicly release their prices.
 
Unlike past Republican policy agendas, there was no reference to reappealing the Affordable Care Act, often referred to by Republicans as “Obamacare.” Overall, the Republican policy agenda does not provide specific policy language or reference specific bills [ [link removed] ] , but it does provide overarching, generalized statements that House Republicans support.

CURES 2.0 Fails to Move Forward
 
The U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee’s markup last week was the Committee’s last markup of the year. H.R. 6000, CURES 2.0 [ [link removed] ] , introduced by U.S. Reps. Diane DeGette (D- Colo.) and Fred Upton (R-Mich.), was one of the bills the Committee was supposed to mark up. However, the bill was pulled from the markup roster after Republicans threatened to offer “poison pill” amendments designed to negate the intended purpose of the bill, thereby making it difficult for members to support the bill.
 
Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) and Upton, the retiring Republican lead co-sponsor of the bill, said they haven’t given up on the legislation. Both Democrats and Republicans say they want a bi-partisan consensus on the bill before moving it forward, if not during this Congress, then during the next.

Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Temporary Waiver Ends on Oct. 31
 
Until Oct. 31, 2022, the Department of Education (ED) will allow borrowers to receive credit toward loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program for loan payments that otherwise would not qualify towards the number of payments needed to earn forgiveness. Information about the PSLF temporary waiver can be found the ED website [ [link removed] ] . The website also contains extensive Frequently Asked Questions and provides a number to call for assistance for any questions not addressed on the website.

California to Implement Notice Requirements for Insurers Who Provide Teledentistry Services Through a Third Party
 
On Sept. 25, California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed a bill [ [link removed] ] that requires health insurers that offer telehealth coverage of dental services through a third-party, corporate telehealth provider to disclose to an enrollee or the insured the impact of third-party telehealth visits on the patient's benefit limitations, including frequency limitations and the patient’s annual maximum. Additionally, insurers must also submit specified information, including the total number of services delivered via telehealth by a third-party, corporate telehealth provider, to the California Department of Managed Health Care or California Department of Insurance.
 
According to bill analysis [ [link removed] ] provided by the California General Assembly, the California Dental Association (CDA) sponsored the bill out of concern that dental plan advertising may claim to provide coverage for telehealth oral evaluations but with a disclaimer for those “who have not exceeded their frequency limitations for office visits.” CDA believes [ [link removed] ] this could result in lack of access to necessary care for patients who choose telehealth visits, as only limited services can be provided through teledentistry. Patients who choose telehealth visits may unknowingly exceed dental visit limitations which could result in a lack of coverage for necessary in-person treatment if a referral is needed for in-person 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
 • 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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