PRIA, Government Policy, Made Personal

Summary

Authorizes the Secretary, through the HRSA Administrator, to give grants to States so they can create and run new programs that fix dentist shortages in officially designated dental health professional shortage areas. States can use the money for things like loan forgiveness and repayment for dentists, recruiting and keeping dentists, grants or low- or no-interest loans to help Medicaid-participating dentists set up or grow practices, starting or growing residency programs, and building or expanding clinics (including mobile, school-linked, community, or dental school-based sites). It also covers services for people with special needs, training and placement of dental students and residents, continuing education (including online), teledentistry, prevention programs like water fluoridation and sealants, school outreach to encourage dental careers, faculty recruitment at dental training institutions, creating or strengthening a State dental officer or office, and other activities the Secretary finds appropriate. States must apply in the form the Secretary requires and promise they can run, evaluate, and report on the project. A State that gets a grant must provide non-Federal contributions equal to at least 40 percent of the Federal funds, in cash or in-kind, from State, local, or private sources. A report was to be sent to Congress no later than five years after October 26, 2002, about whether the grants improved access to dental care in shortage areas. There is authorization to spend $13,903,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023.

Title 42, §256g

The Public Health and Welfare, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Grant program authorized

The Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, is authorized to award grants to States for the purpose of helping States develop and implement innovative programs to address the dental workforce needs of designated dental health professional shortage areas in a manner that is appropriate to the States’ individual needs.

(b)State activities

A State receiving a grant under subsection (a) may use funds received under the grant for— (1)

(2)dental recruitment and retention efforts;

(3)grants and low-interest or no-interest loans to help dentists who participate in the medicaid program under title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.) to establish or expand practices in designated dental health professional shortage areas by equipping dental offices or sharing in the overhead costs of such practices;

(4)the establishment or expansion of dental residency programs in coordination with accredited dental training institutions in States without dental schools;

(5)programs developed in consultation with State and local dental societies to expand or establish oral health services and facilities in designated dental health professional shortage areas, including services and facilities for children with special needs, such as—

(A)the expansion or establishment of a community-based dental facility, free-standing dental clinic, consolidated health center dental facility, school-linked dental facility, or United States dental school-based facility;

(B)the establishment of a mobile or portable dental clinic;

(C)the establishment or expansion of private dental services to enhance capacity through additional equipment or additional hours of operation;

(D)the establishment or development of models for the provision of dental services to children and adults, such as dental homes, including for the elderly, blind, individuals with disabilities, and individuals living in long-term care facilities; and

(E)the establishment of initiatives to reduce the use of emergency departments by individuals who seek dental services more appropriately delivered in a dental primary care setting;

(6)placement and support of dental students, dental residents, and advanced dentistry trainees;

(7)continuing dental education, including distance-based education;

(8)practice support through teledentistry conducted in accordance with State laws;

(9)community-based prevention services such as water fluoridation and dental sealant programs;

(10)coordination with local educational agencies within the State to foster programs that promote children going into oral health or science professions;

(11)the establishment of faculty recruitment programs at accredited dental training institutions whose mission includes community outreach and service and that have a demonstrated record of serving underserved States;

(12)the development of a State dental officer position or the augmentation of a State dental office to coordinate oral health and access issues in the State; and

(13)any other activities determined to be appropriate by the Secretary.

(c)Application

(1)In general

Each State desiring a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may reasonably require.

(2)Assurances

The application shall include assurances that the State will meet the requirements of subsection (d) and that the State possesses sufficient infrastructure to manage the activities to be funded through the grant and to evaluate and report on the outcomes resulting from such activities.

(d)Matching requirement

The Secretary may not make a grant to a State under this section unless that State agrees that, with respect to the costs to be incurred by the State in carrying out the activities for which the grant was awarded, the State will provide non-Federal contributions in an amount equal to not less than 40 percent of Federal funds provided under the grant. The State may provide the contributions in cash or in kind, fairly evaluated, including plant, equipment, and services and may provide the contributions from State, local, or private sources.

(e)Report

Not later than 5 years after October 26, 2002, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report containing data relating to whether grants provided under this section have increased access to dental services in designated dental health professional shortage areas.

(f)Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section, $13,903,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Social Security Act, referred to in subsec. (b)(3), is act Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, 49 Stat. 620. Title XIX of the Act is classified generally to subchapter XIX (§ 1396 et seq.) of chapter 7 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 1305 of this title and Tables.

Amendments

2018—Subsec. (b)(5)(D), (E). Pub. L. 115–302, § 3(1), added subpars. (D) and (E). Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 115–302, § 3(2), substituted “$13,903,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023” for “$25,000,000 for the 5-fiscal year period beginning with fiscal year 2008”. 2008—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 110–355 substituted “$25,000,000” for “$50,000,000” and “2008” for “2002”.

§256g Grants for Innovative Programs