[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4395 Introduced in House (IH)]

113th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4395

   To amend part B of title III of the Public Health Service Act to 
  improve essential oral health care for lower-income individuals by 
                    breaking down barriers to care.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 3, 2014

Ms. Kelly of Illinois introduced the following bill; which was referred 
                to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To amend part B of title III of the Public Health Service Act to 
  improve essential oral health care for lower-income individuals by 
                    breaking down barriers to care.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Action for Dental Health Act 2014''.

SEC. 2. GRANTS TO SUPPORT VOLUNTEER DENTAL PROJECTS AND PUBLIC-PRIVATE 
              PARTNERSHIPS.

    Part B of title III of the Public Health Service Act is amended by 
inserting after section 320A (42 U.S.C. 247d-8) the following new 
sections:

``SEC. 320B. GRANTS TO SUPPORT VOLUNTEER DENTAL PROJECTS.

    ``(a) Authority To Make Grants.--The Secretary shall award grants 
to or enter into contracts with eligible entities described in 
subsection (b) to obtain portable or mobile dental equipment and to pay 
for appropriate operational costs, including direct health care or 
service delivery costs, for the provision of free dental services to 
underserved populations that are delivered in a manner consistent with 
State licensing laws.
    ``(b) Eligible Entity.--An eligible entity under this subsection is 
an organization, such as a State or local dental association, State 
oral health program, or a dental education, dental hygiene education, 
or postdoctoral dental education program accredited by the Commission 
on Dental Accreditation, or a community-based organization that 
partners with an academic institution, that--
            ``(1) is exempt from tax under section 501(c) of the 
        Internal Revenue Code of 1986; and
            ``(2) offers a free dental services program for underserved 
        populations.
    ``(c) Application.--An entity desiring a grant under this section 
shall submit an application to the Secretary in such manner as the 
Secretary may require.
    ``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for the first fiscal 
year beginning after the date of enactment of the Action for Dental 
Health Act 2014 and for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years.

``SEC. 320C. GRANTS FOR PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS TO IMPROVE ORAL 
              HEALTH EDUCATION AND DENTAL DISEASE PREVENTION AND 
              MEDICAID AND CHIP DENTAL PROGRAMS, AND FOR OTHER 
              PURPOSES.

    ``(a) Authority To Make Grants.--The Secretary shall award grants 
to or enter into contracts with eligible entities described in 
subsection (b) to collaborate with State, county, or local public 
officials and other stakeholders in order to develop and implement 
initiatives to accomplish any of the following goals:
            ``(1) To improve oral health education and dental disease 
        prevention, including community-wide prevention programs, use 
        of dental sealants and fluoride varnish, and increasing oral 
        health literacy.
            ``(2) To reduce barriers (including low reimbursement and 
        administrative impediments) in a manner that increases dental 
        provider participation in Medicaid and the Children's Health 
        Insurance Program (CHIP) under titles XIX and XXI of the Social 
        Security Act.
            ``(3) To make the health care delivery system providing 
        dental services under Medicaid or CHIP more accessible and 
        efficient by taking actions necessary to facilitate the 
        establishment of dental homes for children, adults, and the 
        aged, blind, and disabled populations.
            ``(4) To address geographic, language, cultural, and 
        similar barriers in the provision of dental services.
            ``(5) To reduce the use of emergency departments to seek 
        dental services more appropriately delivered in a dental 
        primary care setting.
    ``(b) Eligible Entity.--An eligible entity under this subsection is 
a State or local dental association or a State dental association 
foundation that--
            ``(1) is exempt from tax under section 501(c) of the 
        Internal Revenue Code of 1986; and
            ``(2) partners with public and private stakeholders to 
        facilitate the provision of dental services for underserved 
        populations.
    ``(c) Application.--An entity desiring a grant under this section 
shall submit an application to the Secretary in such manner as the 
Secretary may require.
    ``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for the first fiscal 
year beginning after the date of enactment of the Action for Dental 
Health Act 2014 and for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years.''.
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