GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
The Pennsylvania General Assembly adjourned for the summer after missing the constitutionally-mandated deadline of June 30 to pass the budget for FY 2014- 2015 . The last few weeks of session focused on the highly-contested issues of pension reform and liquor privatization , discussions on which delayed passage of the budget until July 10 .
Legislators are now at home in their district offices until mid-September . We encourage you to contact them over the summer , just to keep open the lines of communication and strengthen your relationships with them . We also ask that you participate in PDA ’ s Legislative Checkup Week , scheduled for September 8-12 . Simply schedule an appointment with your representative and senator for one day during that week to discuss PDA ’ s issues . That way our issues will be at the forefront of legislators ’ minds when they return to session the following week . We ’ ll provide all the information you need for these meetings . Call the government relations staff at ( 800 ) 223- 0016 , or log on to padental . org to find talking points , legislative handouts and other information .
Legislative Update
Assignment of Benefits ( HB 2263 and SB 520 )
In the spring , Rep . Karen Boback ( R-Columbia , Luzerne & Wyoming ) introduced a companion bill in the House of Representatives that would require insurers to honor assignment of dental benefits . HB 2263 is identical to Senate Bill 520 , which would require insurance companies , upon patients ’ request , to assign benefits directly to non-participating providers .
Both HB 2263 and SB 520 are assigned to the respective House and Senate committees that handle insurance issues . Over the summer , PDA reached out to our members who are constituents of the committee members , asking them to contact their representative and senator to request support for this legislation . PDA is hopeful that the General Assembly will pass this legislation in the fall .
Donated Dental Services program
Dental patients with limited or no financial means will benefit from the continuance of the state ’ s funding in the Donated Dental Services ( DDS ) program . The program , which is administered by Dental Lifeline Network , facilitates care for patients who are elderly , disabled or medically fragile and unable to afford the cost of care . The restoration in funding
allowed Dental Lifeline Network to rehire a regional coordinator for the eastern part of the state while maintaining the coordinator already existing in western Pennsylvania . These individuals screen patients , recruit volunteer dentists and laboratories and handle the administrative and logistical tasks for volunteers and patients .
Dental Lifeline Network entered into a contractual arrangement with the Department of Health , which will oversee the release of state funds . In the summer , Dental Lifeline Network hired an individual for the open coordinator position , who is working full-time at an office based in Harrisburg .
J U L / A U G 2 0 1 4 | P E N N S Y LVA N I A D E N TA L J O U R N A L 7