GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
PDA enjoyed another successful year for our annual Day on the Hill . More than 120 dentists , spouses , and dental students represented the dental profession at the Capitol on June 4 . Attendees met with legislators throughout the day to discuss PDA ’ s legislative priorities . Among the issues discussed with legislators and their staff was passing assignment of benefits legislation and reinstating funding for Pennsylvania ’ s Donated Dental Services program . Stay tuned for a feature article recapping Day on the Hill in the September / October issue of the Journal !
If you were unable to attend this year ’ s Day on the Hill , you can still visit with your lawmakers in your hometown during Legislative Checkup Week , scheduled for September 9-13 . After passage of the Governor ’ s budget , the legislature is adjourned for the summer and this will be their last week home before returning to Harrisburg for the fall session . Please meet with them during the week of September 9-13 so that our issues are remembered going into fall session ! Check out www . padental . org for more information
State Issues
House Passes Volunteer Licensure Legislation ( HB 1056 )
HB 1056 , which allows the State Board of Dentistry to issue temporary volunteer licenses to dentists from other state or territories , unanimously passed the House of Representatives on April and was sent to the Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure
Committee for consideration . HB 1056 , which was introduced by Rep . Keith Gillespie ( R - York ), will allow dentists from other states or territories to volunteer at charitable events or provide emergency care in Pennsylvania . This bill will directly benefit events like the MOM-n-PA free dental clinic , which was held in Philadelphia from May 31 to June 1 .
Assignment of benefits Update ( SB 520 )
Following Day on the Hill at the Capitol , PDA attended a meeting hosted by Sen . Don White ( R - Indiana ), chair of the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee . The purpose of this meeting was for stakeholders to reach some consensus on SB 520 , which would give patients the right to choose their dentist and require insurance companies to respect that choice by directly paying even non-participating providers . Dr . R . Donald Hoffman , PDA president , Dr . Herb Ray , Peg Callahan , PDA lobbyist , and Marisa Swarney attended on PDA ’ s behalf . Representatives from Delta Dental and the Insurance Federation , as well as Kristen Kenyon , Legislative Director of Sen . Kim Ward ’ s office , were also present .
Following the productive meeting , Sen . White ’ s staff requested that PDA collect data on the number of non-participating dentists who do not always require payment upfront and were never compensated by policyholders . A survey was sent to PDA members in early June to collect this information . By providing this information , PDA hopes to broker an agreement with insurance companies that will ensure passage of this legislation in the fall .
Donated Dental Services
PDA members and lobbyists met with Rep . Bill Adolph ( R – Delaware ), House Appropriations Committee Chair , in May to advocate for a restoration of state funding in the state ’ s Donated Dental Services ( DDS ) program . The DDS program employs two coordinators to recruit dental labs and dentists to donate free services to treat the disabled , elderly or medically compromised who cannot afford care and handle administrative tasks .
During subsequent meetings involving volunteer members at the grassroots level , PDA ’ s lobbyists were able to secure a commitment from Appropriations leaders to reinstate the state ’ s funding . When the budget passed at the end of June , it included language in the fiscal code that “ sufficient funds ” would be given to operate the DDS program . PDA since learned that the General Assembly provided the $ 150,000 requested to maintain the one regional coordinator currently working and rehire the second needed to screen patients , recruit volunteer dentists and labs and handle the administrative and logistical tasks for volunteers and patients .
The next step for the Department of Health and Dental Lifeline Network , ( which runs the program ) is to enter into a contractual arrangement so that the state funds are properly accounted for . Then Dental Lifeline Network will advertise for the vacant regional coordinator position to operate in the eastern part of the state .
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