Index for HR3962: Affordable Health Care for America Act

“(a) Program.—The Secretary shall establish a training program for oral health professionals consisting of awarding grants and contracts under this section.

“(b) Support and development of oral health training programs.—The Secretary shall make grants to, or enter into contracts with, eligible entities—

“(1) to plan, develop, operate, or participate in an accredited professional training program for oral health professionals;

“(2) to provide financial assistance to oral health professionals who are in need thereof, who are participants in any such program, and who plan to work in general, pediatric, or public health dentistry, or dental hygiene;

“(3) to plan, develop, operate, or participate in a program for the training of oral health professionals who plan to teach in general, pediatric, or public health dentistry, or dental hygiene;

“(4) to provide financial assistance in the form of traineeships and fellowships to oral health professionals who plan to teach in general, pediatric, or public health dentistry or dental hygiene;

“(5) to establish, maintain, or improve—

“(A) academic administrative units (including departments, divisions, or other appropriate units) in the specialties of general, pediatric, or public health dentistry; or

“(B) programs that improve clinical teaching in such specialties;

“(6) to plan, develop, operate, or participate in predoctoral and postdoctoral training in general, pediatric, or public health dentistry programs;

“(7) to plan, develop, operate, or participate in a loan repayment program for full-time faculty in a program of general, pediatric, or public health dentistry; and

“(8) to provide technical assistance to pediatric dental training programs in developing and implementing instruction regarding the oral health status, dental care needs, and risk-based clinical disease management of all pediatric populations with an emphasis on underserved children.

“(c) Eligibility.—To be eligible for a grant or contract under this section, an entity shall be—

“(1) an accredited school of dentistry, training program in dental hygiene, or public or nonprofit private hospital;

“(2) a training program in dental hygiene at an accredited institution of higher education;

“(3) a public or private nonprofit entity; or

“(4) a consortium of—

“(A) 1 or more of the entities described in paragraphs (1) through (3); and

“(B) an accredited school of public health.

“(d) Preference.—In awarding grants or contracts under this section, the Secretary shall give preference to entities that have a demonstrated record of at least one of the following:

“(1) Training a high or significantly improved percentage of oral health professionals who practice general, pediatric, or public health dentistry.

“(2) Training individuals who are from disadvantaged backgrounds (including racial and ethnic minorities underrepresented among oral health professionals).

“(3) A high rate of placing graduates in practice settings having the principal focus of serving in underserved areas or populations experiencing health disparities (including serving patients eligible for medical assistance under title XIX of the Social Security Act or for child health assistance under title XXI of such Act or those with special health care needs).

“(4) Supporting teaching programs that address the oral health needs of vulnerable populations.

“(5) Providing instruction regarding the oral health status, oral health care needs, and risk-based clinical disease management of all pediatric populations with an emphasis on underserved children.

“(e) Report.—The Secretary shall submit to the Congress an annual report on the program carried out under this section.

“(f) Definitions.—In this section:

“(1) The term ‘health disparities’ has the meaning given the term in section 3171.

“(2) The term ‘oral health professional’ means an individual training or practicing—

“(A) in general dentistry, pediatric dentistry, public health dentistry, or dental hygiene; or

“(B) another oral health specialty, as deemed appropriate by the Secretary.”.