Government Relations
PDA has made passage of this legislation our priority for the 2011-2012 legislative session . Understanding the financial impact this policy has on those members participating with insurance companies , PDA ’ s lobbyists , staff and volunteers continue to meet with members of the House Insurance Committee , to which the bill is assigned for first consideration .
Sen . Kim Ward introduced a companion bill , SB 1144 , in the Senate .
PDA Amended Malpractice Insurance Bill
PDA successfully amended SB 388 , legislation requiring dentists to carry malpractice insurance , to include the following exemption for volunteer dentists :
Professional Liability Insurance .—( a ) A person licensed and practicing dentistry shall maintain medical professional liability insurance in the minimum amount of $ 1,000,000 per occurrence or claim and $ 3,000,000 per annual aggregate . Acceptable coverage shall include : ( i ) personally purchased liability insurance ; ( ii ) self-insurance ; ( iii ) liability insurance coverage provided by the dentist ’ s employer ; or ( iv ) liability insurance coverage provided by the communitybased clinic for dentists with a volunteer license . If passed , a licensee must show proof of having purchased insurance to the State Board of Dentistry within 60 days of the issuance of a policy .
This bill passed the Senate in June and will be considered by the House Insurance Committee .
PDA Opposes Cuts to Adult Medical Assistance Program
In February 2011 , Governor Corbett released his proposed budget , which would make the following changes to the Medical Assistance ( MA ) budget :
• Limits reimbursement for routine examinations and cleanings to one annually
• Eliminates funding for crowns , dentures and periodontal services These changes would apply to adults 21 years of age and older only .
PDA lobbied in opposition to these proposed cuts , arguing that Pennsylvania should , at the very least , maintain its level of funding in the MA dental program . Exiting services are particularly necessary for adult patients with disabilities . PDA met with lawmakers and the Administration to discuss the impact these cuts would have on patients and MA providers , and argued that short-term savings to the budget would result in longer-term expenses to taxpayers . The budget passed in June , with some question as to what cuts , if any , DPW will make to the Medical Assistance program . PDA is meeting with DPW officials over the summer to discuss funding issues and try to keep funding .
Legislative Checkup Week | August 22-26
For good oral health , you recommend your patients see you twice a year . For good legislative health , we recommend that you visit your local legislators at least twice a year . Schedule an appointment with your local representative and senator the week of August 22-26 in their hometown offices . You can even coordinate with your colleagues to make these visits together and see how they score on our issues . You ’ ll get to rate how “ healthy ” they are on our issues . Will they get a clean bill of “ health ” or need follow-up preventive and restorative care ? PDA will supply all the information you need for you to prepare and make your visits a success .
Here are three simple steps you need to take :
■ Check out www . legis . state . pa . us and click on the box in the right hand corner of the page to type in your home address and find your legislators . Or call PDA ' s government relations department for your legislators ’ contact information .
■ Schedule a meeting for the week of August 22-26 . Let PDA know of your meeting ( s ) in advance . We will send you handouts to give to your legislators and their legislative health “ check-up ” forms .
■ Download background information and talking points from PDA ’ s website at www . padental . org , or ask PDA to send you this information .
■ Assess your legislators ’ “ health ” on our issues and return their health “ check-up ” forms to PDA , or submit this information online at www . padental . org . Don ’ t forget to email a picture of yourself and your legislator to mss @ padental . org .
Questions ? Contact Donald Smith , government relations coordinator at ( 800 ) 223-0016 , extension 108 , or dls @ padental . org .
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July / August 2011 • Pennsylvania Dental Journal