Help Support the AGD Advocacy Fund Jul 25, 2023 The AGD Advocacy Fund supports national and constituent advocacy efforts by providing resources to tackle new matters, such as legislation or legal action affecting the practice of general dentistry.
CMS Releases Annual Payment Rules Jul 25, 2023 On July 13, 2023, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released two proposed rules, the Calendar Year (CY) 2024 Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Payment System Proposed Rule (CMS 1786-P) and the Calendar Year (CY) 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) Proposed Rule (CMS-1784-P).
Dentists Urge House Members to Reauthorize Action for Dental Health (ADH) Jul 25, 2023 On July 18, 2023, the AGD and other dental organizations sent a letter to House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA-5) and Ranking Member Frank Pallone (D-NJ-6) urging them to reauthorize the Action for Dental Health (ADH) program (H.R. 3843, the Action for Dental Health Act of 2023) for 5 years (2024 through 2028).
Help Support the AGD Advocacy Fund Jul 14, 2023 The AGD Advocacy Fund supports national and constituent advocacy efforts by providing resources to tackle new matters, such as legislation or legal action affecting the practice of general dentistry.
Senate Help Releases Staff Bipartisan Discussion Draft Legislation to Reauthorize PAHPA Jul 14, 2023 On July 3, 2023, staff of Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Bob Casey (D-PA), and Mitt Romney (R-UT) released a staff-level bipartisan discussion draft to reauthorize the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA).
States Continue Enacting Insurance Reforms Jul 14, 2023 By the end of June most state legislatures have ended their sessions for 2023 and adjourned for the year. In addition to medical loss ratio legislation, dentists continued to advocate for insurance reform in the state capitols.
Urge the Senate to Take Up H.R.4555 Today Jul 21, 2022 H.R.4555, the Oral Health Literacy and Awareness Act, overwhelmingly passed the House by a 369-58 vote last year, but the Senate has yet to take up this important public health legislation.
AGD Asks Congress to Support the Medicaid Dental Benefit Act Jul 21, 2022 In a letter led by the American Dental Association (ADA), AGD and 16 other dentist and health organizations called on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to support the Medicaid Dental Benefit Act (S.3166/H.R.4439).
AGD Nominates Dr. Teresa Marshall to the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee Jul 21, 2022 In a letter led by the American Dental Association (ADA), AGD and 11 other dentist and health organizations nominated Dr. Teresa Marshall to serve on the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee in response to the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Federal Register notice on June 15th (87 FR 36137).
ODC Urges House to Advance Student Loan Reform Bills Jul 21, 2022 On Tuesday, the Organized Dentistry Coalition sent a letter to House Education and Labor Committee Chair Bobby Scott (D-VA) and Ranking Member Virginia Foxx (R-NC), urging the Committee to advance several student loan reform bills and encouraging members on the Committee to cosponsor other student reform legislation pending before the Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce Committees.
CMS Proposes Rule Expanding Dental Coverage Under Medicare Jul 21, 2022 The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is proposing a rule that would update its Calendar Year 2023 Physician Fee Schedule to include expanded access to dental services deemed medically necessary under Medicare.
Urge the Senate to Take Up H.R.4555 Today Jul 7, 2022 H.R.4555, the Oral Health Literacy and Awareness Act, overwhelmingly passed the House by a 369-58 vote last year, but the Senate has yet to take up this important public health legislation.
FDA Announces Intention to Establish Nicotine Standard, Ban of JUUL Products Jul 7, 2022 The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently announced their intention to develop a proposed product standard establishing a maximum nicotine level in cigarettes and other combusted tobacco products.
AGD Joins Letter to Appropriators on Tobacco-FDA Provisions Jul 7, 2022 The AGD joined Tobacco Free Kids and other health, medical, education, and community organizations in a letter to House appropriators urging them not to include any provisions in the fiscal year (FY) 2023 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Related Agencies Appropriations bill that would weaken FDA’s authority over tobacco products.
House Appropriations Bill Includes Dental Priorities Jul 7, 2022 The House Appropriations Committee approved the fiscal year (FY) 2023 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies bill by a 32 to 24 vote last week.
Bill Introduced to Provide Consistent Adult Dental Benefit Through Medicaid Jul 29, 2021 On July 19, Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-CA) introduced the Medicaid Dental Benefit Act (H.R.4439), which would require all state Medicaid programs to provide mandatory adult dental and oral health services.
House Appropriations Committee Advances 2022 Funding Bills Jul 29, 2021 The U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Committee approved the fiscal year 2022 funding legislation on July 15 for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS). As anticipated, the Committee has included funding for vital oral health-related programs and provisions in the FY2022 Labor-HHS package (H.R.4502).
New Medicare Dental Expansion Proposals Introduced in Congress Jul 29, 2021 The Medicare Dental, Vision, and Hearing Benefit Act (H.R.4311) from Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) and the Medicare Dental Coverage Act (H.R.4650) from Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL) were both recently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. Both bills would expand Medicare Part B coverage to include comprehensive dental and oral health services.
AGD-Backed Oral Health Literacy Legislation Reintroduced in the House Jul 29, 2021 On July 20, Representatives Tony Cárdenas (D-CA) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) reintroduced H.R.4555, the Oral Health Literacy and Awareness Act of 2021.
AGD and Allies Urge Congress to Protect FDA Oversight of Tobacco Products Jul 15, 2021 A broad coalition of health stakeholders led by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids sent a letter on June 30 to the leaders of the House Committee on Appropriations urging them to oppose any efforts to weaken FDA’s authority over cigars or any other tobacco products. The coalition included AGD along with other groups like ADA, AMA, and the American Lung Association.