PRO-HEAL Act addresses ongoing dental shortage

The ADA is supporting a bill that would create and expand health care provider pipeline programs, including programs aimed toward increasing the number of dentists.

Introduced by Sens. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., and Bob Casey, D-Pa., the Providing Resources and Opportunities for Health Education and Learning Act, S.4031, would allow the Health Resources and Services Administration to award grants to states and institutions of higher learning. These organizations can use the funds — $215 million over five years — to create or expand health care provider pipeline programs. 

In a July 15  letter addressed to Sen. Martin, the ADA notes that the bill would prioritize programs in rural or underserved communities, programs focused on increasing the number of primary care providers and programs focused on recruiting students from the state where a higher education institution is located. 

The ADA said the bill would allow HRSA to regularly increase the number of health care professionals who are eligible for the grants, including dental professionals, based on areas of need and shortages across the country. 

“At a time when a third of dentists have told the ADA they are actively recruiting dental hygienists and dental assistants, and almost nine in ten dentists say that recruiting for these positions is ‘extremely challenging,’ we believe that these dental professionals should clearly be prioritized for health care provider pipeline grant programs,” the ADA letter reads. 

Follow all the ADA’s advocacy efforts at  ADA.org/Advocacy.