42 U.S.C. § 256g — Grants for innovative programs

(a) Grant program authorized. The Secretary, acting through the Health Resources and Services Administration, may give grants to states so they can build programs that fit their own needs for getting more dental care into designated dental shortage areas. (b) State activities. A state that gets a grant can spend the money on: (1) loan forgiveness or repayment for dentists who agree to work in shortage areas, who are dental school graduates agreeing to serve as public health dentists, and who agree to treat patients regardless of ability to pay and use a sliding fee scale; (2) recruiting and keeping dentists; (3) grants or low- and no-interest loans helping Medicaid dentists open or grow practices in shortage areas, including equipment and shared overhead costs; (4) starting or growing dental residency programs with accredited dental schools in states that have no dental school; (5) programs built with state and local dental societies to expand dental services for shortage areas, including for children with special needs - such as new or bigger community, mobile, or school-linked clinics; expanded private practice hours or equipment; new models of care like "dental homes" for elderly, blind, disabled, or long-term-care patients; and ways to keep people out of emergency rooms for dental problems; (6) placing and supporting dental students, residents, and trainees; (7) continuing dental education, including online; (8) teledentistry that follows state law; (9) community prevention like water fluoridation and sealant programs; (10) working with local school districts to steer children toward dental or science careers; (11) recruiting faculty at dental schools that focus on community service in underserved states; (12) creating or strengthening a state dental officer position; and (13) any other activity the Secretary approves. (c) Application. (1) A state must apply to the Secretary in the form, manner, and with the information the Secretary reasonably requires. (2) The application must promise the state will meet the matching-funds rule in subsection (d) and has the staff and systems to run and report on the grant. (d) Matching requirement. The Secretary cannot give a state a grant unless the state agrees to put up its own money or in-kind contributions - like buildings, equipment, or services, from state, local, or private sources - equal to at least 40% of the federal grant amount. (e) Report. By five years after October 26, 2002, the Secretary must send Congress a report on whether these grants actually increased access to dental care in shortage areas. (f) Authorization of appropriations. Congress may spend $13,903,000 each year from 2019 through 2023 on this program.