The new legislative session , which commenced in January 2023 , provides PDA a two-year window in which to advocate on behalf of members and dental patients . Any bill that is introduced in 2023 and 2024 , but fails to become law , will need to be reintroduced and lobbied during the next session . PDA is moving quickly to find legislators to champion dental issues , draft legislation , and educate lawmakers and the new Administration so that we are positioned to enact policies that will benefit you , your practice and your patients .
PDA ’ s Government Relations Committee and Board of Trustees take seriously their role in determining how best to use PDA ’ s lobbying resources and PAC funds . Before session resumed , these PDA leaders carefully weighed every issue impacting the dental profession and assessed Pennsylvania ’ s political climate before deciding which issues to advocate for on your behalf and how best to allocate PDA ’ s resources to achieving our advocacy goals . They also assessed responses to a survey sent last fall , asking you to rank third-party payer and other dental issues in order of importance .
We have heard you loud and clear !
Dental insurance reform ( DIR ) issues are of the utmost importance to members . And PDA ’ s mission is clear : advocate for DIR reforms that will level the playing field with insurers and make it easier for you to practice and serve your patients .
PDA ’ s advocacy agenda is aggressive and focused exclusively on the following DIR issues .
1 Establish dental medical loss ratio
2 Streamline credentialing
3 Assignment of benefits
4 Prior notification to practitioners on network leasing
5 Prohibiting insurers from mandating exclusive virtual credit card payments
We face a formidable opponent with all of these issues . You guessed it !
The insurance lobbyists are none too pleased with our attempt to rein in their cumbersome , oftentimes egregious , policies . We ’ ll need your help throughout this session to communicate why these reforms are necessary . We ’ ll need you to provide real examples of how DIR laws will help you provide the best possible care to your patients . Please respond when we ask for your help along the way . You , a constituent and voter , will have the most impact on a legislator .
While PDA takes a focused approach in limiting its primary advocacy efforts to these DIR issues , we will monitor and address these and any other relevant issues on an as-needed basis :
• Residual COVID-related issues .
• Licensing board advisory opinions .
• Restricted covenants for health care practitioners .
• Telehealth and mobile dental vans .
• Funding for the Donated Dental Services program and other oral health related programs .
• Prescription drug prescribing authority .
• Scope of practice and workplace development issues .
• All insurance issues , such as balance billing , coordination of benefits , and prior authorization .
JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2023 | PENNSYLVANIA DENTAL JOURNAL 13