PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S8721-8723)
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Jul 22, 2004
Dental Health Provider Shortage Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, to award grants to: (1) health centers to increase the number of dental providers and to increase dental health care capabilities by constructing or renovating building space; and (2) eligible individuals in dental health professional shortage areas to increase dental health care capabilities by constructing or renovating building space in exchange for an agreement to practice for five years in such an area and to provide care for certain patients receiving assistance or unable to pay.
Allows the Secretary to award grants to health centers to establish accredited dental residency training programs.
Requires the Secretary to award grants to: (1) simplify and automate the procedures applicable to Medicaid providers to encourage providers to participate in the dental component of the program; and (2) develop, disseminate, and assist with the implementation of a model contract for States to use to enroll dentists as Medicaid providers.
Showing the opening paragraphs of the official summary.
Requires the Secretary, acting through the Administrator, to carry out a program to repay any outstanding student loans of full-time faculty members of a school of dentistry or an accredited dental education program.
Allows the Director of the Indian Health Service to authorize a retention bonus for an eligible dental officer of the Indian Health Service.
Sets forth provisions regarding dentists and dental hygienists in the National Health Service Corps.
People & committees
Sen. Daschle, Thomas A. [D-SD] · D–SD
Legislative record
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Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S8721-8723)
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8720-8721)
Introduced in Senate
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Aug 18, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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