S. 3016

Action for Dental Health Act of 2018

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II

Calendar No. 554

115th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 3016

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

June 6, 2018

Mr. Booker (for himself, Mr. Cassidy, Ms. Hirono, and Mr. Scott) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

August 15, 2018

Reported by Mr. Alexander, with an amendment

Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic

A BILL

To amend the Public Health Service Act to improve essential oral health care for low-income and other underserved individuals by breaking down barriers to care, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Action for Dental Health Act of 2018.

2.

Volunteer dental projects and action for dental health program

Section 317M of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247b–14) is amended—

(1)

by redesignating subsections (e) and (f) as subsections (f) and (g), respectively;

(2)

by inserting after subsection (d) the following new subsection:

(e)

Action for dental health program

(1)

In general

The Secretary, in consultation with the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Administrator of the Health Resources and Service Administration, may award grants to or enter into contracts with eligible entities to collaborate with State or local public officials and other stakeholders to develop and implement initiatives to—

(A)

improve oral health education and dental disease prevention, including—

(i)

through community-wide prevention programs, such as programs that promote the use of dental sealants and fluoride varnish; and

(ii)

by increasing public awareness and education related to oral health and dental disease prevention; or

(B)

reduce barriers to the provision of dental services.

(2)

Eligible entity

In this subsection, the term eligible entity means an entity that is—

(A)

a State or local dental association;

(B)

a State oral health program;

(C)

a dental education, dental hygiene, or postdoctoral dental education program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation; or

(D)

a community-based organization that—

(i)

partners with an academic institution;

(ii)

is exempt from tax under section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; and

(iii)

partners with public and private stakeholders to facilitate the provision of dental services for underserved populations.

; and

(3)

in subsection (g), as redesignated by paragraph (1), by striking such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2001 through 2005 and inserting $18,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2018 through 2022.

3.

Grants for innovative programs

Section 340G of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 256g) is amended—

(1)

in subsection (b)(5)—

(A)

in subparagraph (B), by striking and at the end; and

(B)

by adding at the end the following:

(D)

the establishment of dental homes for children and adults, including for the aged, blind, and disabled populations;

(E)

the establishment of initiatives to reduce the use of emergency departments by individuals who seek dental services more appropriately delivered in a dental primary care setting; and

(F)

the provision of dental care to nursing home residents;

; and

(2)

in subsection (f), by striking $25,000,000 for the 5-fiscal year period beginning with fiscal year 2008 and inserting $13,903,000 for each of fiscal years 2018 through 2022.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Action for Dental Health Act of 2018.

2.

Oral health education

(a)

In general

Section 399LL of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280k) is amended—

(1)

in subsection (a)—

(A)

in the subsection heading, by inserting of oral health education campaign after Establishment; and

(B)

by striking focused on oral healthcare prevention and education and inserting focused on oral health education;

(2)

in subsection (b), in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking campaign and inserting campaign under subsection (a); and

(3)

by striking subsection (c) and inserting the following:

(c)

Action for dental health program

(1)

In general

The Secretary, in consultation with the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, may award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to eligible entities to collaborate with State or local public health officials, tribal health officials, oral health professional organizations, and others, as appropriate, to develop and implement initiatives to improve oral health, including activities to prevent dental disease and reduce barriers to the provision of dental services, including—

(A)

through community-wide dental disease prevention programs; and

(B)

by increasing public awareness and education related to oral health and dental disease prevention.

(2)

Eligible entities

To be eligible to receive a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement under this subsection, an entity shall be—

(A)

a dental association;

(B)

a State or tribal health department or State or tribal oral health program;

(C)

an accredited dental education, dental hygiene, or postdoctoral dental education program; or

(D)

a non-profit community-based organization that partners with public and private non-profit entities, such as an academic institution, to facilitate the provision of dental services to underserved populations.

;

(b)

Technical amendment

Section 399LL-1(d) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280k-1(d)) is amended—

(1)

by striking shall and inserting shall, as practicable and appropriate, before utilize; and

(2)

by striking public education campaign and inserting oral health education campaign and action for dental health program.

(c)

Report to Congress

Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall submit to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives, a report on the outcomes and effectiveness of programs and activities conducted under sections 399LL and 399LL-1 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280k and 280k-1).

3.

Grants for innovative programs

Section 340G of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 256g) is amended—

(1)

in subsection (b)(5)—

(A)

in subparagraph (B), by striking and at the end; and

(B)

by adding at the end the following:

(D)

the establishment or development of models for the provision of dental services to children and adults, such as dental homes, including for the elderly, blind, individuals with disabilities, and individuals living in long-term care facilities; and

(E)

the establishment of initiatives to reduce the use of emergency departments by individuals who seek dental services more appropriately delivered in a dental primary care setting;

; and

(2)

in subsection (f), by striking $25,000,000 for the 5-fiscal year period beginning with fiscal year 2008 and inserting $13,903,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023.

August 15, 2018

Reported with an amendment