I 

112TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 1666 

To amend part B of title III of the Public Health Service Act to improve 

essential oral health care for lower-income individuals by breaking down 

barriers to care. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 2, 2011 

Mr. SIMPSON (for himself and Mr. ROSS of Arkansas) introduced the following 

bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 

A BILL 

To amend part B of title III of the Public Health Service 

Act to improve essential oral health care for lower-income 

individuals by breaking down barriers to care. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Breaking Barriers to 

5 Oral Health Act of 2011’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. GRANTS TO SUPPORT VOLUNTEER DENTAL 

2 PROJECTS AND PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNER3 SHIPS. 

4 Part B of title III of the Public Health Service Act 

5 is amended by inserting after section 320A (42 U.S.C. 

6 247d–8) the following new sections: 

7 ‘‘SEC. 320B. GRANTS TO SUPPORT VOLUNTEER DENTAL 

8 PROJECTS. 

9 ‘‘(a) AUTHORITY TO MAKE GRANTS.—The Secretary 

10 shall award grants to or enter into contracts with eligible 

11 entities described in subsection (b) to purchase portable 

12 or mobile dental equipment and to pay for appropriate 

13 operational costs, including direct health care or service 

14 delivery costs, for the provision of free dental services to 

15 underserved populations that are delivered in a manner 

16 consistent with State licensing laws. 

17 ‘‘(b) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—An eligible entity under 

18 this subsection is an organization, such as a State or local 

19 dental association, or a dental education, dental hygiene 

20 education, or postdoctoral dental education program ac21 credited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation, or 

22 a community-based organization that partners with an 

23 academic institution, that is exempt from tax under sec24 tion 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and that 

25 offers a free dental services program for underserved pop26 ulations. 


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1 ‘‘(c) APPLICATION.—An entity desiring a grant under 

2 this section shall submit an application to the Secretary 

3 in such manner as the Secretary may require. 

4 ‘‘(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 

5 are authorized to be appropriated to make grants under 

6 this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2012 

7 through 2016. 

8 ‘‘SEC. 320C. GRANTS FOR PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS 

9 TO IMPROVE ORAL HEALTH EDUCATION AND 

10 DENTAL DISEASE PREVENTION AND MED11 ICAID AND CHIP DENTAL PROGRAMS, AND 

12 FOR OTHER PURPOSES. 

13 ‘‘(a) AUTHORITY TO MAKE GRANTS.—The Secretary 

14 shall award grants to or enter into contracts with eligible 

15 entities described in subsection (b) to collaborate with 

16 State, county, or local public officials and other stake17 holders in order to develop and implement initiatives to 

18 accomplish any of the following goals: 

19 ‘‘(1) To improve oral health education and den20 tal disease prevention. 

21 ‘‘(2) To reduce barriers (including low reim22 bursement and administrative impediments) in a 

23 manner that increases dental provider participation 

24 in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance 


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1 Program (CHIP) under titles XIX and XXI of the 

2 Social Security Act. 

3 ‘‘(3) To make the dental delivery system pro4 viding dental services under Medicaid or CHIP more 

5 efficient by taking actions necessary to facilitate the 

6 establishment of dental homes. 

7 ‘‘(4) To address geographic, language, or cul8 tural barriers in the provision of dental services. 

9 ‘‘(b) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—An eligible entity under 

10 this subsection is a State or local dental association or 

11 a State dental association foundation that is exempt from 

12 tax under section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 

13 1986 and that partners with public and private stake14 holders to facilitate the provision of dental services for un15 derserved populations. 

16 ‘‘(c) APPLICATION.—An entity desiring a grant under 

17 this section shall submit an application to the Secretary 

18 in such manner as the Secretary may require. 

19 ‘‘(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 

20 are authorized to be appropriated to make grants under 

21 this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2012 

22 through 2016.’’. 

Æ 


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