Congress adjourned for its monthlong recess. Before leaving, the House and Senate passed continuing resolutions to extend government funding through Dec. 4 and Dec. 11, respectively, giving Congress additional time to complete fiscal year 2027 appropriations after the elections. The House is expected to pass the Senate version when it returns to Washington on Aug. 31. Congress also introduced or advanced several bills of interest to the specialty:
- The Action for Dental Health Act (HR 2001) passed the House on July 20. The bill would reauthorize the Action for Dental Health program, which is administered through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and provides grants to support oral health education, disease prevention and workforce development initiatives in underserved communities. A Senate companion bill (S 5099) was introduced on July 23. AAOMS has supported this bill as part of coalition efforts.
- AAOMS signed onto a dental coalition letter in support of the Ensuring Kids Have Access to Medically Necessary Dental Care Act (S 5088/HR 9833), which was introduced July 22. The bill would prohibit lifetime and annual limits on CHIP dental coverage and require states to provide wraparound dental coverage under CHIP for children with private health insurance who would otherwise qualify for CHIP.
- The House passed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027 (HR 8800), the annual defense policy bill, which includes oral health provisions that would establish no-cost TRICARE Dental Program coverage for Selected Reserve members in certain pay grades and allow eligible military dependents to receive treatment from dental residents at military dental treatment facilities.
- The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee approved the Educating Medical Professionals and Optimizing Workforce Efficiency and Readiness (EMPOWER) for Health Act (S 4110), which would reauthorize HRSA Title VII health professions programs through 2030, supporting workforce development and expanding access to primary and pediatric dental care in underserved communities. The bill would also benefit OMSs who may qualify for the dental faculty loan repayment program.
- A bipartisan group of physician members of Congress introduced the Patients First Act (HR 9693), which would reform the Medicare physician payment system by tying reimbursement updates to inflation, raising the budget neutrality threshold, replacing the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) with a new quality payment program, and establishing a clinician-led CMS task force to develop quality measures for the new program. Physician groups have largely applauded the bill. AAOMS is reviewing the bill to evaluate its impact.
