Legislation would ensure many dental workforce programs continue
The ADA is expressing support for the Bipartisan Primary Care and Health Workforce Act, a bill that would address the primary health care crisis and increase funding for many workforce programs, including those that support dental providers.
In a
letter sent Sept. 19 to Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., the ADA specifically supported provisions in the bill that would extend the State Oral Health Workforce Improvement Grant Program, the Oral Health Training Programs, the Community Health Center Fund, the National Health Service Corps, and the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education Program. The bipartisan bill was authored by Rep. Sanders and Rep. Roger Marshall, R-Kan.
“Workforce and access to care issues are among the ADA’s top priorities,” the letter reads, noting that many dentists report difficulty in recruiting for dental hygienists and assistants. “Dental practice staffing difficulties limit the number of patients dentists can see, and this problem is especially acute in underserved areas.”
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