The ADA offered guidance on how the No Surprises Act could affect dental practices and six other federal government and policy updates for dentists to know from the last month:
1. The United States extended the COVID-19 public health emergency for another 90 days April 13.
2. The Health Resources & Services Administration's COVID-19 Uninsured Program stopped accepting claims for vaccine administration April 5.
3. The Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act, a legislation requiring insurers to cover dental and oral procedures to treat birth defects, passed the House of Representatives April 4.
4. The American Dental Association offered guidance March 30 on how the recently enacted No Surprises Act could affect dental practices.
5. Several dental groups joined 23 medical organizations as part of the Partnership for Medicaid to request that Congress give state Medicaid agencies 120 days to prepare for the conclusion of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.
6. The American Dental Association applauded Congress' inclusion of oral health initiatives in its Cures 2.0 Act and voiced its support for several others to be added in a March 17 letter to lawmakers.
7. The CDC launched an app for dentists to ensure their practices meet infection control standards.