Congress Provides $5 Million for Pediatric Dentistry Training in FY 2008 Conference Labor-HHS Appropriations Bill Approved by Congress But Vetoed by President

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Congress Provides $5 Million for Pediatric Dentistry Training in FY 2008 Conference Labor-HHS Appropriations Bill Approved by Congress But Vetoed by President
October 2007
American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry

Recognizing the acute national shortage of pediatric dentists, the U.S. Congress in its conference report for federal fiscal year (FY) 2008 Labor-Health and Human Services-Education (L-HHS) appropriations directed funding of $5 million for the Title VII* Pediatric Dentistry residency training grant program, which continues the funding level provided from the previous year.

This issue was the AAPD's top appropriations priority for FY 2008. The AAPD thanks the U.S. Congress for their support of this critical program for the improvement of childrenĖs oral healthcare.

The overall FY 2008 L-HHS appropriations bill, H.R. 3043, was sent to the White House on November 8, 2007 after the House voted 274 to 141 to approve the conference agreement. Unfortunately, President Bush vetoed the bill on November 13, 2007. The AAPD urges the President and Congress to reach a final agreement to fund Title VII and other key dental provisions as provided in H.R. 3043.

This legislation also provided $5 million for the Dental Health Improvement Act (initiated via the leadership of Senators Russ Feingold D-Wisc. and Susan Collins R-Maine), an increase of $3 million over the previous year. These are state grants that can be used to enhance dental workforce and oral health access strategies in a variety of areas, including loan forgiveness to dentists who practice in dental health professions shortage areas, grants and low or no-interest loans to help providers who participate in Medicaid establish and expand dental practices, and faculty recruitment in dental training institutions noted for community outreach and serving underserved populations.

For further information, please contact AAPD Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel C. Scott Litch at oed@aapd.org.

*Title VII refers to health professions training programs within the U.S. Public Health Service Act. It is a program designed specifically to address the national shortage of pediatric dentists by providing seed money for start-up or expansion of pediatric dentistry residency programs. With this support, 46 Pediatric Dentistry residency programs, including 8 new residency programs, have greatly increased pediatric dentistry residency training opportunities. Title VII funding is directly responsible for an increase of over 100 first year pediatric dentistry residency positions over the past decade. Pediatric dentistry residency programs are producing needed pediatric dentists in communities and providing significant oral health care to under-served populations within the residency training programs.