ADA to Congress: Bring PATIENT Act to floor for passage

Association supports bill’s reauthorization of important workforce programs focused on those most in need of care

The ADA urged congressional leaders to bring HR 3561, the Promoting Access to Treatments and Increasing Extremely Needed Transparency Act, also known as the PATIENT Act, to the floor for a vote, as the Association strongly supports the bill’s reauthorization of important workforce programs focused on those most in need of care.

In a June 8 letter addressed to Rep. Kevin McCarthy, speaker of the house, and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, minority leader, ADA President George R. Shepley, D.D.S., and Executive Director Raymond A. Cohlmia, D.D.S., wrote

that the PATIENT Act would extend the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education Program, which is currently set to expire on Sept. 30.

“It would also raise Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education Program funding by $50 million every two years through fiscal year 2029, providing needed resources for new and expanded dental residency programs,” Drs. Shepley and Cohlmia wrote. “Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education Programs train residents to serve some of our nation’s most vulnerable populations in community-based settings such as federally qualified health centers, rural health clinics and tribal health centers.”

Drs. Shepley and Cohlmia said extending and expanding the funding would provide increased stability to teaching health centers and strengthen continuity of care in underserved communities.

“This extension of the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education Program would also direct critical funding to a program that has needed increased resources for years, allowing for the expansion of existing Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education Programs and the creation of many new Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education Programs and residency slots,” they wrote. “New funding would address general health workforce shortages and would also address persistent health disparities.”

Sixty percent of Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education Program training sites are in medically underserved communities. Research suggests that dentists and physicians are more likely to practice near the location of their training, so extending and expanding Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education Program funding would likely increase access to care in medically underserved communities and lead to better health outcomes among populations experiencing oral health disparities, Drs. Shepley and Cohlmia said.

HR 3561, if passed, would also extend the National Health Service Corps through 2025, they wrote.

“The ADA strongly supports increasing National Health Service Corps scholarship and loan repayment opportunities for dentists,” they said. “Extending National Health Service Corps programs would continue to address problems with health workforce distribution and local shortages, while also providing an opportunity for dentists and others to reduce student loan debt through service. The burden of paying off student loans for graduate dental education often contributes to geographical gaps in availability of dental services and access to oral health care because indebted graduates must seek out less risky and more lucrative opportunities. Extending the National Health Service Corps [programs] would encourage dentists and promising dental students to practice in underserved areas by providing loan repayment and scholarships in exchange for a service commitment.”

The ADA leaders added that passage of the bill would extend funding for community health centers through 2025.

“The ADA strongly believes in the importance of optimal oral health, and thus better systemic health, for all Americans,” they wrote. “Because of this commitment, the ADA supports community-based care like community health centers, which also provide needed care to underserved areas and populations.”

In conclusion, Drs. Shepley and Cohlmia wrote, “America’s dentists thank you for your leadership on dental and health workforce issues, which would be further demonstrated by bringing the PATIENT Act to the floor for a vote and passage. The ADA is ready to work with you to ensure that the dental workforce is sufficient to provide access to care for all Americans across our nation.”

Follow the ADA’s advocacy efforts at ADA.org/advocacy.