Government Relations
The second half of a two-year legislative session in Pennsylvania began in mid-January amid a resurgence of COVID-related anxiety and uncertainty . The General Assembly continues to convene in-person for now , with the bulk of their session days scheduled for May and June . Their focus will be to finalize the state budget for fiscal year 2022-23 , but PDA is gearing up to fight for dental-related issues that could also gain traction this spring into early summer .
So just how is the state budget shaping up ? Probably better than you think , thanks to an influx of federal dollars . Pennsylvania received $ 7.29 billion in funds from the federal American Rescue Plan Act ( ARPA ) of 2021 . To date , the General Assembly has appropriated a total of $ 1.04 billion in discretionary ARPA funds and the roughly $ 6 billion remaining must be spent by the end of 2024 . The $ 1.04 billion includes :
• $ 377 million to the governor ’ s executive offices to fund “ pandemic response ”
• $ 282 million for long-term living care
• $ 279 million to fund highway and safety improvements
• $ 50 million to support State System of Higher Education consolidation plan
• $ 50 million to the Housing Finance Authority for rising construction costs
Additionally , the Governor has tapped into an additional $ 655 million for the childcare industry , $ 145 million for hospitality , $ 50 million for hazard pay for essential , front-line workers and
$ 20 million for barbers and salons . Small businesses , including dental practices , received help through the federal CARES Act to the tune of $ 255 million .
Proposed legislation to expand and improve broadband access will have a tangential impact on those providing and receiving telehealth services . PDA ’ s government relations committee is exploring other opportunities in which ARPA funds would benefit the dental profession and patients ’ ability to access dental care .
ADA Awards Pennsylvania with SPA Funding
Once again , PDA applied for and was granted funding from the ADA ’ s State Public Affairs ( SPA ) program to use for the first half of 2022 to enhance our lobbying efforts with third-party payer issues . While we will continue efforts to pass SB 850 , legislation that would require insurers to honor a patient ’ s request to assign their benefit directly to a non-participating provider , PDA ’ s government relations and dental benefits committees are currently assessing the political climate to determine which other third-party payer issues to lobby for the remainder of 2022 .
The additional funding will be used to hire a few more lobbyists to assist PDA ’ s current lobbying team in advocating for SB 850 and to begin lobbying other third-party payer issues . Any remaining funds will be used on a public relations campaign in targeted areas of the state intended to resonate with key lawmakers whose support we need to counter the insurance lobbyists ’ opposition to third-party payer reform issues .
JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2022 | PENNSYLVANIA DENTAL JOURNAL 7