ADA: Urge Congress to pass bill with oral health priorities

Association sends Action Alert on government funding legislation

The ADA sent a grassroots Action Alert Dec. 19 encouraging members to urge their members of Congress to retain funding for oral health workforce programs and support small business protections in the continuing resolution that would fund the federal government until March 2025.

The bipartisan compromise bill fell apart Wednesday night after facing opposition from President-elect Donald Trump and Elon Musk. To avoid a government shutdown, Congress must pass the bill by Dec. 20 at midnight. 

“Today, we are asking you to help ensure these provisions are not stripped from a more streamlined continuing resolution as Congress determines what changes are going to attract bipartisan support for its passage before the shutdown deadline,” reads the Action Alert. 

The ADA said the bill would positively impact the dental profession, emphasizing the need for Association members to urge Congress to retain funding for a bevy of oral health workforce programs and delay the Corporate Transparency Act compliance deadline. 
 
Some key oral health workforce programs at risk include the Action for Dental Health Act, which supports programs that address workforce shortages and improve access to oral health care in underserved areas; the National Health Service Corps, which provides loan repayment incentives to bring dental professionals to underserved communities; the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education program, which expands dental residency programs in community-based settings; and community health centers, which ensure continued access to oral health care for underserved populations. 

The compromise legislation also contained a one-year delay in the compliance deadline for the Corporate Transparency Act, requiring small businesses, including many dental practices, to report beneficial ownership information to the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. 

“Without this delay, dental practices face uncertainty and potential penalties, distracting from your ability to provide care to patients,” the ADA said in the alert.

Also at risk is the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Reauthorization Act, which would reauthorize a federal grant program aimed at increasing mental health resources for health care workers. 

The Action Alert included a link to a pre-drafted message for member dentists to share how these provisions impact their practice and patients. 

“Your engagement can make the difference in protecting these crucial programs and ensuring continued access to oral health care for patients across the country,” the ADA concludes. 

To take action or for more information about the continuing resolution, visit this webpage.