The federal budget that has been finally approved by Congress disallows funding during the current fiscal year for any kind of alternative dental health care provider demonstration projects authorized by the health care reform law. The budget funds government programs through Sept. 30, 2011.

The Association has gone against funding for these demonstrations, which could support projects that have midlevel providers getting the permission to perform surgical and irreversible procedures. There is a law that allows demonstration grants which is to establish training programs to train, or to employ, alternative dental health care providers in order to increase access to dental health care services in rural and other underserved areas.

The demonstration programs are not currently funded and the new rules showcase that no funds will be provided. The House of Representatives has gone on to approve of a separate FY 2012 budget that makes no mention of alternative dental providers. The demonstration grants are newly authorized programs.

Alternative dental care providers will also henceforth include community dental health coordinators, advance practice dental hygienists, independent dental hygienists, supervised dental hygienists, primary care physicians, dental therapists, dental health aides, and any other health professional.