Help Support the AGD Advocacy Fund Aug 23, 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.
AGD exhibits at ALEC and NCSL Annual Meetings Aug 23, 2023 In July, AGD exhibited at the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) Annual Meeting in Orlando and in August AGD exhibited at the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) Annual Meeting in Indianapolis.
DEA Final Rule on Dispensing Narcotic Drugs Aug 23, 2023 On August 7, 2023, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) issued a final rule entitled, Dispensing of Narcotic Drugs to Relieve Acute Withdrawal Symptoms of Opioid Use Disorder.
MATE Act Discussions Aug 9, 2023 The Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE) Act of 2021 is a law passed as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, focused on training for prescribers of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment drugs and requires health care providers, including dentists, to complete a one-time training on managing patients with SUDs as a condition of receiving or renewing a registration to prescribe controlled substances.
Congressional Outlook for August and September 2023 Aug 9, 2023 On July 28, 2023, both the House of Representatives and the Senate entered the summer congressional district work period colloquially referred to as "August recess", which is a month-long period in which Members of Congress leave D.C. to travel back to their home states and districts.
Dental Organizations Urge NCOIL to Support MLR Legislation for Dental Plans Aug 9, 2023 On July 19, 2023, the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), along with several other dental organizations, sent a letter to the National Council of Insurance Legislators (NCOIL) Committee on Health Insurance & Long-Term Care Issues, urging them to adopt the Medical Loss Ratios (MLR) for Dental Health Care Services Plans Model Act (the Model Act).
Urge the Senate to Take Up H.R.4555 Aug 31, 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.
HHS Publishes Report on Medicaid Enrollment Under the COVID-19 PHE Aug 31, 2022 The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently released a report highlighting current projections for the number of individuals predicted to lose Medicaid coverage at the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) declaration.
Biden Announces Student Loan Relief Plan Aug 31, 2022 Last week, President Biden announced a three-part plan to extend the student loan repayment pause one final time, cancel up to $20,000 of student loan debt for eligible borrowers, and “make the student loan system more manageable” for current and future borrowers.
Urge the Senate to Take Up H.R.4555 Today Aug 4, 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.
HHS Renews COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Aug 4, 2022 On July 15th, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra renewed the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) citing an uptick in coronavirus infections and deaths caused by the Omicron BA.5 subvariant.
AGD Comments on Proposals to Prohibit Tobacco Flavors Aug 4, 2022 AGD joined Tobacco Free Kids and over 100 other health, medical, education, and community organizations in comments to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) supporting proposed rules that would prohibit characterizing flavors in cigars and the use of menthol as a characterizing flavor in cigarettes.
AGD Files Comments on OSHA’s COVID-19 Healthcare ETS Aug 24, 2021 AGD submitted official comments to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) on August 20, responding to certain aspects of OSHA’s Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) for Occupational Exposure to COVID–19.
Dentistry Coalition Support Legislation to Incentivize Hiring of Service Members Aug 24, 2021 AGD joined Organized Dentistry Coalition (ODC) members in sending letters to the House and Senate sponsors of S.1178/H.R.1854, the Reserve Employers Comprehensive Relief and Uniform Incentives on Taxes (RECRUIT Act).
AGD and AGD Foundation Call for Vote on the PREVENT HPV Cancers Act Aug 24, 2021 On August 11, AGD and the AGD Foundation sent a letter in support of H.R.1550, the Promoting Resources to Expand Vaccination, Education and New Treatments for (PREVENT) HPV Cancers Act of 2021, to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA).
House Returns from Recess to Vote on Budget Resolution Aug 24, 2021 Members of the U.S. House of Representatives returned to Washington D.C. on August 23 to begin considering the adoption of a budget framework that would set the stage for their $3.5 trillion social spending and tax bill, a multi-year physical infrastructure package, and a voting rights bill.
In the States Aug 28, 2020 The AGD and Wisconsin AGD sent a letter to the City of Madison Water Utility Board in advance of their August 25 meeting, and in support of community water fluoridation (CFW).
HHS Releases Healthy People 2030 Aug 28, 2020 On August 18, the HHS Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP) released Healthy People 2030 (HP2030) – the 5th version of the Healthy People initiative.
House Committee Initiates Investigation into Health & Dental Insurers Aug 28, 2020 The House Energy & Commerce Committee sent oversight letters to nine health and dental insurance companies on August 13, seeking information on their policies and practices amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
AGD Initiates Dialogue with the National Association of Dental Plans Aug 28, 2020 The National Association of Dental Plans (NADP) responded to AGD’s letter sent on July 7, and welcomed open communications between the organizations.