Academy of General Dentistry Endorses Oral Health Literacy Awareness Legislation
The Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) announced its full support of HR4678, the “Oral Health Literacy and Awareness Act of 2019.”
CHICAGO– The Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) announced its full support of HR4678, the “Oral Health Literacy and Awareness Act of 2019,” legislation introduced on October 17 by Reps. Tony Cárdenas (D-CA), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), and Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-CA). The bill, which was developed in partnership with the AGD, amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to increase oral health literacy and awareness in specific at-risk populations including: children, pregnant women, elderly, individuals with disabilities, and ethnic and racial minority groups.
The public education campaign would be delivered across all relevant HRSA programs, including the Health Centers Program, Oral Health Workforce, Maternal and Child Health, Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, and Rural Health. If enacted, H.R.4678 would authorize up to $750,000 per year through the end of 2024 for HRSA to carry out its oral health literacy and awareness campaign.
