Advocate Newsletter

December 2023

Volume 3, No. 25, December 19, 2023
In This Issue |    Student Loan Debt Relief Negotiated Rulemaking Ends, Proposed Rule Expected By May; CMS Releases Rule Implementing New Medicaid Renewal Enforcement Authorities; Rollout Details of Canadian Dental Care Plan Announced; University of Wisconsin Strikes Deal With Legislators to Cut Back DEI Initiatives in Exchange for Raises and Funding.

Volume 3, No. 24, December 12, 2023
In This Issue |    Lawmakers Introduce the Bipartisan Workforce Pell Act; House Passes DETERRENT Act; Additional Proposals in the Payment Parameter Proposed Rule; Proposed Wisconsin Rule Would Allow Dental Hygienists to Independently Apply Topical Anesthetics.

Volume 3, No. 23, December 5, 2023
In This Issue |    House Energy and Commerce Committee Holds Hearing on Rebuilding Public Trust in the CDC; 4.6 Million People Sign Up for Health Coverage on the ACA Exchanges; North Carolina Launches Medicaid Expansion.

November 2023

Volume 3, No. 22, November 28, 2023
In This Issue |    Biden Administration Proposes Rule to Include Adult Dental Coverage as an Essential Health Benefit on the ACA Exchanges; Senate and House Return From Break; California Set to Expand Medicaid to All Adults Regardless of Immigration Status and Eliminate All Asset Limits; Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact Introduced in Wisconsin;

Volume 3, No. 21, November 21, 2023
In This Issue |    Congress Keeps the Federal Government Open; House Consideration of the Labor, HHS and Education Appropriations Bill; CMS Issues Final 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, Includes Dental and Oral Health Policy Changes; Department of Education Announces FAFSA Release Date for 2024–2025 School Year; Missouri Passes Emergency Rule, Proposes Rule to Govern New Health Care Provider Loan Repayment Program;

Volume 3, No. 20, November 14, 2023
In This Issue |    House Education and Workforce Committee Passes the DETERRENT Act; Senate Holds Hearing on Artificial Technology and Health Care; Dr. Monica Bertagnolli Confirmed as the NIH Director; House Explanatory Statement on LHHS Appropriations Bill; Anti-Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Battle Rages in Wisconsin;

Volume 3, No. 19, November 7, 2023
In This Issue |    Biden Administration Issues Executive Order on Artificial Intelligence; Maine Proposes Rules to Make Allied Professionals Eligible for State’s Dental Education Loan Repayment Program; Washington State Considers Health Equity CE Requirements for Dental Hygienists;

October 2023

Volume 3, No. 18, October 31, 2023
In This Issue |    Reps Elect New Speaker of the House; U.S. Rep. Judy Chu Re-introduces the POST GRAD Act; Senate HELP Committees Holds Nomination Hearing and Confirmation Vote for NIH Director Nominee Dr. Monica Bertagnolli; Utah Proposes Collaborative Practice Agreements for Dentists Who Do Not Meet Current Experience Requirements;

Volume 3, No. 17, October 24, 2023
In This Issue |    House Education and Workforce Committee Introduces First in a Series of Bills to Reauthorize the Higher Education Act; ADEA’s Summary of State and Federal Loan Forgiveness Programs Updated; Georgia’s Partial Medicaid Plan Enrolls Just Over 1,300 Patients in First Three Months, Despite Projections of 100,000 Eligible;

Volume 3, No. 16, October 17, 2023
In This Issue |    Senate HELP Committee Will Hold Confirmation Hearing for NIH Director; DEA Issues Additional Extension of the PHE Telehealth Prescribing Flexibilities Until Dec. 31, 2024; California Governor Signs Multiple Bills;

Volume 3, No. 15, October 10, 2023
In This Issue |    ED Seeks Rule on Its Authority to Assist Students With Debt; House Speakership Now Vacant, Lawmaking in Congress at a Standstill; Delaware Makes Dentists Eligible for Loan Repayment Program;

Volume 3, No. 14, October 3, 2023
In This Issue |  ED Releases Report on Strategies and Practices to Increase Diversity and Opportunity in Higher Education; Congress Reaches to Deal to Avoid Federal Government Shutdown; Illinois Makes Multiple Changes to Dental Practice Act, Creates E-Prescribing Exemptions; Colorado Finalizes Rule Making Dental Therapists Eligible for Medicaid Reimbursement;

September 2023

Volume 3, No. 13, September 26, 2023
In This Issue |  Senate HELP Committee Advances Health Workforce Legislation; Medicaid Expansion Set to Begin in North Carolina;

Volume 3, No. 12, September 19, 2023
In This Issue |  ADEA Leadership Institute Fellows Visit Capitol Hill; Congress Considers Appropriations Bills As Government Shutdown Looms; Changes to Initial Dental Hygienist Licensure Requirements May Be Coming in California; Canadian Government Awards Funds to Sun Life of Canada to Begin Work on National Dental Plan;

Volume 3, No. 11, September 12, 2023
In This Issue |  Learn More About Student Loan Repayment Options in ED’s Free Webinar; Congress Returns From Recess; Student Loan Repayments Restart; North Carolina Delays Medicaid Expansion, Michigan Changes Immigration Status Requirement for Some Medicaid Recipients; California Bill Would Allow All Dental Students Who Have Begun Clinical Training to Practice at Free Health Care Events; Delaware to Require Schools to Provide Oral Health Screening for Kindergarteners

August 2023

Volume 3, No. 10, August 1, 2023
In This Issue |  Senate Advances Appropriations Important to Oral Health Education; House Education and Workforce Committee Holds Hearing on Accountability in Postsecondary Education; NC Governor’s Administration Announces Medicaid Expansion Will Begin Oct. 1; Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact Introduced in Pennsylvania;

July 2023

Volume 3, No. 9, July 25, 2023
In This Issue |  Biden Administration Works to Keep People Insured as Millions Lose Medicaid; House Energy and Commerce Full Committee Marks Up Dental Programs Reauthorization; Several States Pass Legislation to Transition From Federal ACA Health Insurance Exchange to State-based Market;

Volume 3, No. 8, July 18, 2023
In This Issue |  House Begins Health and Education Funding Debate; Biden Administration Limits Duration of Short-term Health Insurance; Health Subcommittee Marks Up Dental Programs Reauthorization; North Carolina Debates Changes to Licensure Reciprocity and Other Changes to Dental Practice Act; Unified Health Care Financing Bill Moving Through California State Legislature;

Volume 3, No. 7, July 11, 2023
In This Issue |  U.S. Supreme Court Strikes Down Biden’s Student Loan Debt Relief Program; Biden Offers Loan Relief Response to the Supreme Court’s Student Loan Debt Relief Decision; Oregon Sends Bill to Governor to Create Advisory Committee to Study Dental Assistant Workforce Shortage; Maine Makes Changes to Dental Therapists’ Practice Agreements and Scope of Practice for Dental Hygienists;

Volume 3, No. 6, July 6, 2023
In This Issue |  U.S. Supreme Court Strikes Down Affirmative Action in Admissions; Biden Administration Reacts to the U.S. Supreme Court’s Affirmative Action Rulings; Florida CHIP Program to Raise Income Eligibility Limits; Georgia to Implement Partial Medicaid Expansion That Includes Work Requirements;

June 2023

Volume 3, No. 5, June 27, 2023
In This Issue |  House Fails to Override Biden’s Veto on Resolution to Stop the Cancellation of Student Debt; Sen. Rubio and Rep. Banks Introduce DEI Bills Impacting Higher Ed Accreditation; Vermont Will Allow Public Health Dental Hygienists to Use Silver-modified, Atraumatic Restorative Technique; Delaware Legislature Votes for Bill That Would Make Dentists Eligible for Loan Repayment Program;

Volume 3, No. 4, June 21, 2023
In This Issue |  HHS Tries to Stem Medicaid Coverage Losses; Rep. Dan Crenshaw Introduces Bill Limiting Funding for Children’s Hospitals’ GME Programs; Maine Sends Bill to Governor to Study Feasibility of Establishing Dental Therapy Program at University of Maine; Nevada Governor Signs Bill to Create New Health Care Provider Student Loan Program; Connecticut Sends Bill to Governor to Create New Pathway for Authorizing Dental Hygienists to Take Radiographs;

Volume 3, No. 3, June 13, 2023
In This Issue |  Federal Budget and Oral Health Funding Outlook; Biden Announces NIH Director and CDC Director; U.S. Supreme Court Upholds Medicaid Beneficiaries’ Right to Sue; Ohio House Passes Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact; Nevada Legislature Sends Bill to Governor That Would Impact Dental Hygienists and Expanded Function Dental Assistants;

Volume 3, No. 2, June 7, 2023
In This Issue |  New One-time DEA Training Requirement for All Prescribers; Florida Governor Signs Create Veterans Dental Care Program; Texas Wraps Up Legislative Session; Sends Multiple Bills That Will Impact Higher Education and Dentistry to Governor; Maine Legislature Votes to Make Allied Professionals Eligible for Loan Repayment Program;

Volume 3, No. 1, June 1, 2023
In This Issue |  House Republicans Rebuke Biden’s Student Loan Debt Relief Plan; Sen. Bernie Sanders Introduces His 2023 “Medicare for All” Bill; Florida Legislature Votes to Fund Dental Student Loan Repayment Program; Minnesota’s Health Appropriations Bill Signed by Governor, Includes Multiple Oral Health Focused Initiatives;

MAY 2023

Volume 2, No. 100, May 24, 2023
In This Issue |  ED Releases Gainful Employment Proposed Rule; HRSA Now Accepting Applications for the Faculty Loan Repayment Program; Washington State and Tennessee Join Licensure Compact; Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact Webinar Recording Now Available; Washington State Gov. Signs Bill to Allow Dental Therapists to Practice Statewide

Volume 2, No. 99, May 16, 2023
In This Issue |  Senate HELP Committee Holds Field Hearing and Roundtable to Discuss Diversifying the Health Workforce; FDA Issues Finalized Blood Donation Recommendations; DEA Issues Rule Temporarily Extending COVID-19 Telemedicine Flexibilities for Controlled Drugs; Update to the ADEA Compilation of State Teledentistry Statutes and Regulations; Florida, North Dakota and Tennessee Governors Sign Anti-DEI Legislation, and Anti-DEI Bill Passes Texas Senate

Volume 2, No. 98, May 9, 2023
In This Issue |  DEA Issues Statement on Temporarily Continuing PHE Telehealth Prescribing Flexibilities; CMS Proposes New Standards to Aid Access to Health Care in Medicaid and CHIP Programs; Iowa Becomes First State to Join Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact; Class Action Settlement Results in Increased Dental Coverage for New York Adults Enrolled in Medicaid; Maryland Makes Changes to Faculty Licensure for Foreign-trained Dentists

Volume 2, No. 97, May 2, 2023
In This Issue |  CDC and Biden Administration Announce New COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations and Access Program for COVID-19 Vaccines and Treatment for the Uninsured; House Passes Bill Limiting Transgendered Students Participation in Sports; Oklahoma State Legislature Passes Modifications to Dental Practice Act; Washington State Legislature Passes Bill Requiring Health Carriers to Allow Licensed Denturists to Provide Covered Dental Services; Florida House of Representatives Passes Bill to Create Veterans’ Dental Care Program

APRIL 2023

Volume 2, No. 96, April 27, 2023
In This Issue |  ADEA Holds Capitol Hill Briefing on Health Care Worker Shortages; House Subcommittee Holds Hearing on Health Care Workforce Shortages; Bills That Would Impact Washington State Oral Health Professionals Signed by or Sent to Governor; Iowa Legislature and Tennessee General Assembly Pass Dentist and Dental Hygiene Compact Bills

Volume 2, No. 95, April 19, 2023
In This Issue |  Biden Administration Announces Expansion of Health Coverage to DACA Recipients; ED Issues Update to Third-party Servicer Proposed Guidance; Maryland Considering Expanding Dental Coverage to Those Ineligible for Health Care Coverage Due to Immigration Status; Washington State to Send Dentist and Dental Hygiene Compact to Governor

Volume 2, No. 94, April 12, 2023
In This Issue |  Biden Administration’s Proposed Title IX Rule Allows Limited Transgendered Athletic Ban; HRSA Awards $23M in Grants to Develop Teaching Health Center Residency Programs; HRSA Launches Oral Health Campaign; Supreme Court Temporarily Halts West Virginia Transgender Law; Michigan Medicaid Adds New Dental Benefits for Adults and Increases Reimbursement Rates; Arizona Legislature Passes Bill to Increase Dental Hygienists' Scope of Practice

Volume 2, No. 93, April 5, 2023
In This Issue |  Congress Hears the Voice of Dental Education; FDA Issues Safety Communication Regarding Use of Certain Dental Devices; Meharry Dean Testifies Before the Senate Finance Committee; Washington House Passes Bill That Would Allow Dental Therapists to Practice Statewide; Budget Shows Canadian Government Will Continue Expansion of Dental Program

MARCH 2023

Volume 2, No. 92, March 28, 2023
In This Issue |  HHS Seeks Expanded Authorities to Combat Future Pandemic Threats; Affordable Care Act Celebrates Its 13th Anniversary; New Fund in Kentucky Could Create Dental Hygiene and Dental Assistant Scholarships, Training Programs; Georgia May Restrict Vaping in Public Places; North Carolina General Assembly Sends Medicaid Expansion Bill to Governor

Volume 2, No. 91, March 24, 2023
In This Issue |  The Medicaid Dental Benefit Act Reintroduced in the 118th Congress; FY 2024 President’s Budget Request; ED Guidance Makes Leaders of Failing Private Colleges Personally Liable for Government Debts; Mississippi Joins States That Have Extended or Will Extend Postpartum Medicaid Coverage; Utah Governor Signs Several Bills That Will Impact Oral Health Practitioners and Higher Education

Volume 2, No. 90, March 7, 2023
In This Issue |  Supreme Court Hears Challenges to Biden’s Student Loan Debt Relief Plan; CMS Releases Additional Guidance on PHE Transitions; IDR Student Loan Account Adjustment Date Pushed Back; North Carolina House and Senate Reach Deal on Medicaid Expansion; Some States to Begin Medicaid and CHIP Disenrollment in April

FEBRUARY 2023

Volume 2, No. 89, February 28, 2023
In This Issue |  FDA Fines Vape Companies for Ignoring “Stop Selling” Orders; Independent Review Recommends Congress Give New Opioid Authority to FDA; Utah Senate Votes to Increase Autonomy for Dental Hygienists in Public Health Setting; Arizona House Passes Bill to Increase Dental Hygienist’s Scope of Practice; Virginia General Assembly Sends Bills on Licensure and Botox to Governor

Volume 2, No. 88, February 22, 2023
In This Issue |  Senate HELP Committee Addresses Health Care Workforce Shortages; Texas and Florida Governors Announce Anti-DEI Policies; North Carolina House Passes Bill to Expand Medicaid;

Volume 2, No. 87, February 14, 2023
In This Issue |  HHS Issues a Public Health Emergency Transition Roadmap; USDA Proposes Update to School Lunches, Limiting Added Sugars; 2023 ADEA/AADOCR/Friends of NIDCR Advocacy Day; West Virginia Bill Would Add New Specialties and Make Other Updates to Dental Practice Act; Utah State Legislature Passes Bill to Extend Dental Benefits to All Adults Enrolled in Medicaid; Ohio Governor Signs Licensure Reciprocity Bill

Volume 2, No. 86, February 7, 2023
In This Issue |  Biden Administration Set to End Public Health Emergency on May 11; 2023 ADEA/AADOCR/Friends of NIDCR Advocacy Day; Virginia Bill Would Create Workgroup to Study Issues Related to Licensure Reciprocity for Dentists and Dental Hygienists; Alabama Medicaid Agency Proposes Dental Coverage for Pregnant Adults; Mississippi House Passes Bill to Double Number Admitted to Rural Dental Scholarship Program

JANUARY 2023

Volume 2, No. 85, January 31, 2023
In This Issue |  FDA Proposes Simplifying COVID Vaccine Schedule; CMS Issues Guidance Letters to State Medicaid Directors Expanding Medicaid Flexibilities; 2023 ADEA/AADOCR/Friends of NIDCR Advocacy Day; Missouri Dental Board Waives Sections of Dental Practice Act to Implement Telehealth Dental Pilot Project; Utah Bill Would Expand Medicaid Dental Benefits for Adults to New Populations

Volume 2, No. 84, January 24, 2023
In This Issue |  16M Enrolled in the ACA Marketplaces During the Open Enrollment Period; 2023 ADEA/AADOCR/Friends of NIDCR Advocacy Day; Ryan White HIV/AIDS Dental Reimbursement Program Now Open; CMS Issues Guidance to States on Medicaid Recertifications; Medicaid Expansion Debates Continue in States Across the Country

Volume 2, No. 83, January 18, 2023
In This Issue |  Biden Administration Extends the Public Health Emergency; U.S. Department of Education Announces Proposed Regulatory Changes for IDR Student Loan Payment Plans; 2023 ADEA/AADOCR/Friends of NIDCR Advocacy Day; Connecticut Expands Medicaid to Include Income Eligible Children, Regardless of Immigration Status; Maryland Official Files Proposal to Add Dental Benefits for Enrolled Adults

Volume 2, No. 82, January 10, 2023
In This Issue |  118th U.S. Congress is Sworn In; CMS Proposed Rule Tackles Provider Availability and Simplifies Plan Choices; The 2023 HRSA Loan Application Cycle is Now Open; 2023 State Legislative Sessions Begin Across the Country; Update to ADEA State Opioid Chart Now Available