3 things you missed in government this week

Pass-through entity taxes, student loans, fluoride

“Three Things You Missed in Government This Week” is designed to offer a way to stay informed on the topics of the week. These updates are meant to offer brief details on legislative or regulatory topics to keep dentists engaged and up to date. To explore the ADA’s latest advocacy efforts, more information is available at ADA.org/Advocacy. 

1.    The ADA is playing a critical role in preventing the House of Representatives’ version of H.R. 1 from gutting current tax law to impose harsh new tax rules on dental practices, according to a June 24 Action Alert. The provision would deny the pass-through entity tax deduction for many small businesses, including dental practices, likely resulting in a new tax increase for certain businesses structured as pass-through entities. Although the Senate version of the bill partially restored the pass-through entity tax deduction, the measure is still at risk of being eliminated as negotiations continue. The Association is asking members to contact their members of Congress and urge them to defend and fully restore the pass-through entity tax deduction. The issue was listed among the ADA's key priorities outlined in a June 27 letter to Senate leadership.

2.    Nearly 2 million student loan borrowers are at risk of having their wages garnished by the government this summer, according to TransUnion. The credit-reporting company found that roughly six million federal student loan borrowers were 90 days or more past due between February and April, making them delinquent. The ADA has expressed support for the Resident Education Deferred Interest, or REDI, Act and the Protecting Our Students by Terminating Graduate Rates that Add to Debt, or POST GRAD, Act — both of which would reduce the loan burden for dentists.  

3.    The ADA is responding to an interview with Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt about federal and state health messaging. Mr. Kennedy said the U.S. would “see probably slightly more cavities” if fluoride is removed from drinking water. In a statement, ADA President Brett Kessler, D.D.S., reaffirmed the ADA’s support for community water fluoridation. Dr. Kessler called it “dangerous and cruel to make a public policy decision knowing that it will have a negative health impact,” adding that “blindly calling for a ban on fluoridated water will hurt people’s health and cost them more money.”