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National LegislationAGD continuously monitors national legislation so that the organization can communicate the interest of the general dentist to interested parties. In addition, the organization maintains policies to communicate the AGD position when speaking to national legislators on the general dentists’ behalf. AGD encourages its members to advocate on behalf of the profession as well. Review the current list of the AGD dental care and legislative policies to use in your communications with local lawmakers. In addition, the AGD publishes updates on national legislation that may affect general dentists. Click on the links below to learn more about national legislation that the AGD is monitoring or view earlier legislative updates from the AGD by click on the archive link on the right.
Democrats in the House of Representatives revealed their long-awaited health care reform legislation on Oct. 29, 2009. The Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R. 3962), which is nearly 2,000 pages long, tracks closely with the health care reform bills produced this summer by the three House committees with jurisdiction over health care reform. The new bill establishes several new federal consumer protections for purchasers of health insurance; creates a health insurance exchange through which individuals and small businesses can purchase insurance; requires individuals to purchase insurance and employers to offer insurance to their employees; offers tax incentives to assist low-income families and small businesses in purchasing insurance; makes several changes to the Medicare and Medicaid programs; and either establishes or reforms several health care workforce and public health programs.
The legislation also includes a so-called “public option,” which is a government-sponsored insurance plan to compete with private insurers. The public option must negotiate rates with providers, who can “opt out” from participation.
The bill also contains language that revokes the McCarran-Ferguson Act’s antitrust exemption for health insurers and issuers of medical malpractice insurance as it relates to price control, bid rigging, and market allocation. The language would for the first time place health and medical malpractice insurers under the regulatory purview of the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice.
House Democrats are expected to bring the bill to the floor for debate on Nov. 5. The legislation is expected to pass by a narrow margin, with only Democrats voting in favor.
Impact on General Dentistry: The legislation contains several items relevant to general dentists. Perhaps most important is that pediatric dentistry is a required benefit for all health insurance plans under the legislation. Adult dental benefits are a required benefit for the highest level plan, referred to in the bill as the Premium-Plus plan.
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