Rural communities face a range of societal and geographical barriers to obtaining oral health care. States are responding with efforts to boost the workforce, increase insurance coverage and promote services offered remotely through teledentistry.
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, every state was simultaneously placed in a state of emergency for the first time in American history. While most state legislatures grant governors broad authority during emergencies, they also employ a variety of tools to prevent its misuse.
Red-light and speed cameras allow state and local governments to capture images of drivers violating traffic laws. Some states authorize the use of this type of automated enforcement while others limit or ban it altogether.
Stories of unsuspecting consumers getting shockingly high bills after receiving medical care from out-of-network providers prompted some state lawmakers to act. The topic is receiving renewed attention as these surprise bills emerge for services related to COVID-19.
