Dental Loan Repayment Assistance Act
The AAPD spearheaded a letter from the Organized Dentistry Coalition (which includes ADA and ADEA among others) in support of legislation that would allow full-time educators participating in the HRSA Dental Faculty Loan Repayment Program to exclude from their federal income taxes the amount of the loan forgiveness received from this program. In July 30 letters to the Senate Finance and House Ways and Means Committees, the groups asked lawmakers to include S. 449/HR 1285, Dental Loan Repayment Assistance Act, in any tax legislation considered by Congress in 2021. For a copy of the letters as posted on the ADA website, see House Ways and Means Committee and Senate Finance Committee. This legislation is the AAPD’s top priority for 2021.
 
ACA Benefit and Payment Parameters 2022
The AAPD and ADA submitted a joint letter to the CMS outlining our position on updates to the proposed notice of benefit and payment parameters for the Affordable Care Act next year. The letter supported the agency's proposal to repeal a provision that would have allowed direct enrollment outside of exchanges. The letter also expressed support for an extension of the ACA open enrollment period and creation of a special open enrollment period for lower-income consumers.

AAPD Joins Large Coalition Supporting Permanent CHIP Reauthorization
The AAPD and ADA joined more than 500 organizations in sending a letter to congressional leaders urging them to pass the Comprehensive Access to Robust Insurance Now Guaranteed for Kids Act and the Children's Health Insurance Program Permanency Act and make the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) permanent. The groups, led by the First Focus Campaign for Children, said CHIP has helped reduce the number of children without health insurance, improved health care access for pregnant women and children, and become a vital source of health care coverage for American Indian, Alaska Native, Black, Hispanic and multiracial children.
 
For further information on any of these letters, please contact COO and General Counsel C. Scott Litch at slitch@aapd.org.