AGD Capitol Connections

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.

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).

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.