Dr . Dennis Charlton , Incoming President , Addresses the House
than licensed dentists . This is a concern that we have on our radar and will continue to monitor in the coming year . The eyes and ears of the ADA and PDA are watching and listening to those who feel they need to change the way dentistry is administered to our patients . We are ever vigilant and preparing to protect our current dental delivery system .
Our advocacy efforts have been another area that has required plenty of attention . We managed to have positive affects on several pieces of legislation in the last legislative session . House Bill 602 , which amended the dental law further expanding the definition of “ expanded function dental assistant .” This new law gives the EFDAs a wider range of duties . Although regulations are yet to be established to implement this act , the law is in place and soon our EFDAs will be able to add the additional duties . EFDAs will now be authorized to perform the additional duties which include polishing teeth , applying fluoride treatments and taking impressions for athletic mouth guards all under dentists ’ direct supervision . House Bill 482 , which was to require ID badges for all health professionals , was successfully tweaked to exempt dentists and their staffs . We argued that our practices are fundamentally different from hospital based physician practices . Our message was well received and ID badges won ’ t be necessary in dental offices the near future .
Other areas of good solid progress were Senate Bill 1222 and House Bill 2684 . SB 1222 is a bill generated by the PDA to make it law to prohibit an insurance company to dictate fees for services that they don ’ t cover . This issue was given to the BOT by the HOD via HD 10-26 , which reads :
RESOLVED : THAT PDA ADVOCATE FOR THE PASSAGE OF LEGISLATION IN THE PENNSYLVANIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY THAT PROHIBITS INSURERS FROM CAPPING NON- COVERED SERVICES PROVIDED BY PARTICIPATING PROVIDERS .
This “ non-covered services ” bill was voted out of the Senate Banking and Insurance committee . As the legislative session came to an end so did the opportunity to enact this important legislation . The PDA is positioned to reintroduce this legislation
The passing of the gavel from Dr . Spruill to Dr . Charlton .
34 July / August 2011 • Pennsylvania Dental Journal