ADA thanks senators for introducing Action for Dental Health bill

Legislation would reauthorize workforce grant program

The ADA is expressing gratitude to several U.S. senators for introducing the Action for Dental Health Act of 2023, a piece of bipartisan legislation that would extend the ADH program through fiscal year 2026.

The bill, which was introduced Sept. 21, would allocate federal funding toward state and local organizations through a Health Resources and Services Administration oral health workforce grant program to address issues related to access to care and dental workforce.

In a letter addressed Oct. 2 to Sens. Cory Booker, D-N.J., Ted Budd, R-N.C., and Mazie K. Hirono, D-Hawaii, ADA President George R. Shepley, D.D.S., and Executive Director Raymond A. Cohlmia, D.D.S., called the program “a crucial workforce grant program focused on providing access to care for those most in need.”

“The ADA has long championed the ADH program, which provides federal grants for the dental health needs of underserved populations,” the letter reads. “Programs supported by ADH advance the important goal of decreasing dental health disparities in communities where better access to care is most needed.”

The letter said that the ADA supports ADH’s funding of dental disease prevention through oral health education, the reduction of geographic and language barriers and improved access to care. The bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. 

“The nation’s dentists stand ready to work with you to ensure Americans have a sufficient dental workforce to meet their oral health needs,” the letter reads. “We look forward to working with you to advance this important bipartisan legislation.”

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