Congress passed two legislative spending bills Dec. 19. The bills total $1.4 trillion in spending, including funds affecting oral health, according to the American Dental Association.
The bills, HR 1865 and HR 1158, are meant to keep the government running through the end of fiscal year 2020. The White House expects President Donald Trump to sign both bills into law, the ADA reports.
The legislation includes funding for the following organizations:
- The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research would be allotted $477.4 million for 2020.
- Indian Health Service Division of Oral Health would receive $210.6 million. Funding includes $2 million to manage the electronic dental records system and add more dental centers to the system. IHS recruitment and retention programs received $65.3 million, a move estimated to allow hiring around 200 more healthcare providers.
- The bill includes $19.5 million for the CDC Division of Oral Health.
- Numerous facets of the Health Resources and Services Administration would receive funding, including $12 million each for general dentistry and pediatric dental residencies, along with $2 million for dental faculty loan repayment.
- The bill includes $10 million for military dental research.
The spending package would also repeal taxes created by the Affordable Care Act and extend Medicaid funding for U.S. territories.