---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 256g–1"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "256g–1"
heading: "Demonstration program to increase access to dental health care services"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/256g-1"
units:
  - "Chapter 6A — Public Health Service"
  - "Subchapter II — General Powers and Duties"
  - "Part D — Primary Health Care"
  - "Subpart x — primary dental programs"
---

# §256g–1. Demonstration program to increase access to dental health care services

- (a) **In general—**
  - (1) **Authorization—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) is authorized to award grants to 15 eligible entities to enable such entities to establish a demonstration [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) to establish training [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) to train, or to employ, alternative dental [health care providers](/usc/42/300aa–33.md?p=1) in order to increase access to dental health [care services](/usc/42/300z–1.md?p=a-7) in rural and other underserved communities.
  - (2) **Definition—** The term “alternative dental [health care providers](/usc/42/300aa–33.md?p=1)” includes 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 health professional that the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) determines appropriate.
- (b) **Timeframe—** The demonstration [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) funded under this section shall begin not later than 2 years after March 23, 2010, and shall conclude not later than 7 years after March 23, 2010.
- (c) **Eligible entities—** To be eligible to receive a grant under [subsection (a)](#a), an entity shall—
  - (1) be—
    - (A) an [institution of higher education](/usc/42/11851.md?p=7), including a community college;
    - (B) a public-private partnership;
    - (C) a federally qualified health center;
    - (D) an Indian Health [Service](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) facility or a tribe or tribal organization (as such terms are defined in [section 5304 of title 25](/usc/25/5304.md));
    - (E) a [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) or county public health clinic, a health facility operated by an Indian tribe or tribal organization, or urban Indian organization providing dental [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a); or
    - (F) a public [hospital](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=1) or health system;
  - (2) be within a [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation or within a dental education [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) in an accredited institution; and
  - (3) shall submit an application to the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) may require.
- (d) **Administrative provisions—**
  - (1) **Amount of grant—** Each grant under this section shall be in an amount that is not less than $4,000,000 for the 5-year period during which the demonstration [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2)[^1] being conducted.
  - (2) **Disbursement of funds—**
    - (A) **Preliminary disbursements—** Beginning 1 year after March 23, 2010, the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) may disperse to any entity receiving a grant under this section not more than 20 percent of the total funding awarded to such entity under such grant, for the purpose of enabling the entity to plan the demonstration [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) to be conducted under such grant.
    - (B) **Subsequent disbursements—** The remaining amount of grant funds not dispersed under [subparagraph (A)](#d-2-A) shall be dispersed such that not less than 15 percent of such remaining amount is dispersed each subsequent year.
- (e) **Compliance with State requirements—** Each entity receiving a grant under this section shall certify that it is in compliance with all applicable [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) licensing requirements.
- (f) **Evaluation—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall contract with the [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) of the Institute of Medicine to conduct a study of the demonstration [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) conducted under this section that shall provide analysis, based upon quantitative and qualitative data, regarding access to dental health care in the United States.
- (g) **Clarification regarding dental health aide program—** Nothing in this section shall prohibit a dental health aide training [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) approved by the Indian Health [Service](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) from being eligible for a grant under this section.
- (h) **Authorization of appropriations—** There is authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. The word “is” probably should appear.

## Source credit

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title III, § 340G–1, as added Pub. L. 111–148, title V, § 5304, Mar. 23, 2010, 124 Stat. 621.)