The ADA signed a joint letter asking lawmakers to include a student loan repayment program in its pandemic preparedness legislation, the dental agency said Feb. 23.
The ADA is part of a coalition of medical groups led by the Infectious Diseases Society of America. The coalition sent its letter Feb. 4 to Patty Murray, D-Wash., and Richard Burr, R-N.C., of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.
The letter asked the two lawmakers to include text from the proposed Bolstering Infectious Outbreaks Preparedness Workforce Act in its legislation because it will help ensure the availability of healthcare workers to fight infectious outbreaks. If enacted, the bill would make loan repayment available to healthcare workers — including dentists — who spend at least 50 percent of their time in biopreparedness and response activities or providing infectious diseases care in medically underserved communities and federally funded facilities.