Download AGD Applauds Congressional Budget Resolution

Contact: Lauren Henderson, Academy of General Dentistry, 312.440.4974, [email protected]
AGD Applauds Congressional Budget Resolution
CHICAGO (Dec. 17, 2015)—The Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) applauds the United
States Congress for passing a budget and tax agreement that responds to key components of the
AGD’s 2015 advocacy agenda.
Of note in the Fiscal Year 2016 budget agreement, was the suspension of the collection of the
medical device tax on sales during the period beginning on January 1, 2016 and ending on
December 31, 2017. The medical device tax applies to dental services manufacturers and
orthodontic manufacturers, leading to higher consumer costs for devices such as crowns, bridges,
and dentures. “The AGD has advocated for a repeal of the medical device tax since its inception
with the passage of the Affordable Care Act,” says AGD President W. Mark Donald, DMD,
MAGD. “We are pleased to see Congress suspend the collection of this tax. Now our members
will not be faced with the decision to absorb the tax costs into their practices or pass the costs on
to their patients.”
The budget agreement also provides for an increase from $9 million to $10 million for general
dentistry residency programs under Title VII and includes a directive to the Health Resources
and Services Administration (HRSA) to issue a new funding opportunity for the Dental Faculty
Loan Repayment Program. Dental Title VII grantees play a key role in diversifying the dental
workforce and providing outreach and services to underserved and vulnerable populations. With
the average dental graduate leaving school with more than $241,000 in student loan debt and
academic positions typically paying only one-third of what can be earned by going into private
practice, faculty loan repayment is a critical recruitment tool.
“The Academy of General Dentistry is committed to advocating for sound public policies that
enable the general dentistry profession to provide the highest quality care to our patients,” says
Dr. Donald. “Thank you to our grassroots advocates who continue to voice the concerns of
general dentistry and our patients to their Members of Congress.”
About the Academy of General Dentistry
The Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) is a professional association of 39,000 general
dentists dedicated to providing quality dental care and oral health education to the public. AGD
members stay up-to-date in their profession through a commitment to continuing education.
Founded in 1952, the AGD is the second largest dental association in the United States, and it is
the only association that exclusively serves the needs and represents the interests of general
dentists. A general dentist is the primary care provider for patients of all ages and is responsible
for the diagnosis, treatment, management, and overall coordination of services related to
patients’ oral health needs. For more information about the AGD, visit www.agd.org.
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