AGD Issues Support for Legislation to Improve Medicaid Dental Care for Foster Youth
AGD sent a letter of support to Representative Karen Bass (D-CA) on March 25 for her bipartisan legislation, the Foster Youth Dental Act of 2021 (H.R.1794).
AGD Congratulates U.S. Surgeon General Murthy on Senate Confirmation
On March 24, AGD sent a letter to Vice Admiral Vivek H. Murthy, M.D., MBA, congratulating him on being confirmed by the Senate to serve as the 21st Surgeon General of the United States.
Lawmakers Reintroduce Bill to Protect Patients with Congenital Anomalies
On March 16, Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Representatives Anna Eshoo (R-CA) and Drew Ferguson, D.M.D. (R-GA) reintroduced ELSA, the Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act (H.R.1916/S.754).
Senators Introduce Bill to Expand Dental Coverage for Pregnant and Postpartum Women
U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Ben Cardin (D-MD), and Cory Booker (D-NJ) recently introduced the Oral Health for Moms Act (S.560).
AGD Joins Massive Coalition Calling for PPP Extension
AGD joined hundreds of allied organizations in an effort led by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to have the SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) extended beyond its current end-of-month expiration date.
Sixth COVID-19 Relief Bill Signed into Law
On March 11, President Joe Biden signed into law the American Rescue Plan Act (H.R.1319), a massive $1.9 trillion COVID-19 aid package passed using the budget reconciliation process in Congress. No Republicans in the House or Senate voted in favor of the legislation.
AGD Supports Legislation to Create Healthy Workplaces Tax Credit
AGD send a letter of support to Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) on March 5 for their bipartisan legislation, the Healthy Workplaces Act (S.537). The bill would create a tax credit for qualified expenses that help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace.
HHS Authorizes Dentists and Dental Students to Administer COVID-19 Vaccines Nationwide
Effective March 11, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued the seventh amendment to the Declaration under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (PREP Act) to authorize dentists and dental students to administer COVID-19 vaccines in all 50 states.
Dental Faculty Student Loan Bill Reintroduced
Representatives Yvette Clark (D-NY) and Paul Gosar (R-AZ), and Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Roger Wicker (R-MS) have reintroduced a bill to improve the dental faculty loan repayment program, the Dental Loan Repayment Assistance Act (H.R.1285/S.449).
FDA Issues Emergency Use Authorization for Single-dose J&J Vaccine
On February 27, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) for the third vaccine for the prevention of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The EUA allows the Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine to be distributed in the U.S for use in individuals 18 years of age and older.
Stimulus Package Moves to Senate for Consideration
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the American Rescue Plan Act (H.R.1319) on February 27, along a party-line vote. The $1.9 trillion COVID-19 stimulus proposal will now be taken up in the Senate, where the package will be revised to remove a provision that would increase the federal minimum wage to $15/hour.
New Bill Introduced to Improve Dental Coverage for Vulnerable Children
Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) introduced a bill on February 25 to improve dental insurance coverage available to children through the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).