42 U.S.C. § 256g–1 — Demonstration program to increase access to dental health care services

(a) In general. (1) The Secretary may award grants to 15 eligible organizations to run demonstration projects that train or hire "alternative dental health care providers" to bring more dental care to rural and underserved communities. (2) That term covers 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 provider type the Secretary approves. (b) Timeframe. The demonstration projects must start within 2 years after March 23, 2010, and must end within 7 years after that date. (c) Eligible entities. To get a grant, an organization must: (1) be one of these - a college or university (including community colleges), a public-private partnership, a federally qualified health center, an Indian Health Service facility or tribe or tribal organization, a state or county public health clinic or tribal or urban Indian dental facility, or a public hospital or health system; (2) be part of a program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation, or part of an accredited dental education program; and (3) submit an application to the Secretary in the required form and with the required information. (d) Administrative provisions. (1) Each grant must be at least $4,000,000 spread over the 5-year project. (2) Disbursement of funds: (A) starting 1 year after March 23, 2010, the Secretary can give a grantee up to 20% of its total grant to help plan the project; (B) the rest must be paid out so that at least 15% of the remaining amount is released each following year. (e) Compliance with State requirements. Each grantee must certify that it follows all applicable state licensing rules. (f) Evaluation. The Secretary must hire the Director of the Institute of Medicine to study these demonstration programs, using quantitative and qualitative data, and analyze access to dental care nationwide. (g) Clarification regarding dental health aide program. This section does not stop an Indian Health Service-approved dental health aide training program from also getting a grant here. (h) Authorization of appropriations. Congress may spend whatever amount is needed to run this section.