110 HR 6613 IH: Improving Dental Access in Underserved U.S. House of Representatives 2008-07-24 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I 110th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 6613 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 24, 2008 Mr. Conyers (for himself, Ms. Kilpatrick, Mr. Rangel, Ms. Lee, Mrs. Christensen, Ms. Jackson-Lee of Texas, Mr. Meeks of New York, Mr. Cohen, Ms. Norton, Mr. Grijalva, and Mr. Courtney) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce A BILL To amend the Public Health Service Act to increase the number of dentists serving health professional shortage areas, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Improving Dental Access in Underserved Communities Act of 2008.

2.

Findings

Congress finds the following: (1)Dental disease is a chronic problem among low-income and vulnerable populations. It is the most common, chronic childhood disease and is largely preventable. (2)Access to oral health care services by underserved populations is affected by many factors including but not limited to income, public insurance coverage, geography, and transportation. (3)Providing incentives for dentists to establish practices in underserved areas could help alleviate barriers to obtaining care. (4)According to the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) dental school graduates’ student loan debt now exceeds $145,000. (5)According to a 1998 American Dental Association (ADA) member survey, the median cost of starting a dental practice was $150,000 with an average member reporting costs over $174,000. Today that cost is estimated at close to $250,000. (6)Over 90 percent of practicing dentists are in the private sector. More needs to be done to make it financially attractive for those dentists to participate in the Medicaid and SCHIP programs, which generally have low reimbursement service rates. (7)The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) program has a proven record of supplying physicians and dentists to underserved areas, and has played an important role in expanding access for underserved populations in rural and inner city communities. (8)Continued expansion of the National Health Service Corps program is strongly recommended. (9)The growing debt incurred by graduating dental students is likely to increase the interest and willingness of graduates of United States dental schools to apply for National Health Service Corps program funding and awards.

3.

Reauthorization of national health service corps scholarship program and loan repayment program

(a)

Reauthorization of Appropriations

Section 338H(a) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254q(a)) is amended by striking $146,250,000 and all that follows through the period and inserting $300,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 through 2013.. (b)

Scholarships for Dental Students

Section 338H of such Act is further amended by adding at the end the following: (d)

Scholarships for Dental Students

Of the amounts appropriated under subsection (a) for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall obligate $100,000,000 for contracts for scholarships under this subpart to individuals who are accepted for enrollment, or enrolled, in a course of study or program described in section 338A(b)(1)(B) that leads to a degree in dentistry. .

4.

Reauthorization of certain programs providing grants for health professions training for diversity

(a)

Grants for Centers of Excellence

Section 736(h)(1) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 293(h)(1)) is amended by striking $26,000,000 and all that follows through 2002 and inserting $33,610,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 through 2013. (b)

Educational Assistance for Individuals From Disadvantaged Backgrounds

Section 740(c) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 293d(c)) is amended by striking $29,400,000 and all that follows through the period and inserting $35,650,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 through 2013..