AGD Capitol Connections

In a letter to the Chief Dental Officer of the World Health Organization (WHO), AGD outlined its positions on some of the topics covered under the WHO’s Global Oral Health Action Plan (2023-2030) draft.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently proposed a rule that would update its Calendar Year 2023 Physician Fee Schedule to include expanded access to behavioral health services, Accountable Care Organizations, cancer screenings, and dental services deemed “medically necessary” under Medicare.

In a letter addressed to the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the AGD expressed its deep concerns with recommendations put forward by the Advisory Committee on Training in Primary Care Medicine and Dentistry’s (ACTPCMD) 19th Annual Report.

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 joined Tobacco Free Kids and over 70 other health, medical, education, and community organizations in a letter to Dr. Robert Califf, Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), to express support for the FDA’s recent announcement to develop a product standard that reduces nicotine levels in cigarettes to non-addictive or minimally addictive levels.

Last week, the AGD sent a letter to Congressional appropriators on the House and Senate Labor, Health and Humans Services, Education and Related Agencies Subcommittees with recommendations for funding critical dental workforce and oral-related programs in FY2023 appropriations legislation.