Dental groups warn of U.S. spending limits

Mar 21, 2010

The ADA and Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) are warning of mounting pressure to restrain federal discretionary spending -- the money available after commitments to mandatory programs, such as Medicare and Social Security, are fulfilled. Sens. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) and Claire McCaskill (D-MO) have introduced an amendment to various bills that would limit the growth in discretionary spending to less than 2% a year for five years, according to an AGD report.

In the U.S. House of Representatives, a coalition of 54 conservative "Blue Dog" Democrats has introduced a bill that would cut discretionary spending by 2% a year for three years, then freeze it for two years. If these Democrats join with Republicans, the bill could pass in the House.

President Barack Obama has proposed a freeze in some discretionary programs, but not others.

"Most of the federal programs that are of importance to the AGD, including all general dentistry training programs authorized by Title VII of the Public Health Service Act, are funded through discretionary spending that would be subject to such restrictions," the AGD noted.

Among the programs the freeze would affect are the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research and dental programs in the Indian Health Service and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the ADA said.

The ADA "joined with nearly 120 other health professional and patient groups in opposing a proposal to address the national debt by freezing federal discretionary spending," the organization stated.