G ove r n men t Re lat ions
HB 1553 has 29 cosponsors and is assigned to the House Health
Committee. Sen. Judith Schwank introduced similar legislation,
SB 678, in the Senate.
Regulating Mail-Order Orthodontics
Rep. Thomas Murt (R-Montgomery) introduced HB 412,
legislation that would make it unlawful for dental technicians
and dental labs operating in Pennsylvania to furnish
orthodontic appliances unless a dentist has first examined the
patient, authorized and prescribed the orthodontia services.
This bill was introduced to stem a growing trend of technicians
offering orthodontia treatment and/or appliances through the
mail without patients having been seen by dentists, potentially
jeopardizing patient safety by compromising their overall health.
HB 412 has two cosponsors and is assigned to the House
Professional Licensure Committee.
Licensee Reporting Requirements and Suspensions
Sen. Robert Tomlinson (R-Bucks) introduced SB 354, legislation
that would require all licensees, registrants and certificate
holders to report any disciplinary conduct by any licensing board
or an arrest, indictment or conviction within 30 days. Failure to
report would result in disciplinary action.
SB 354 would also provide each licensing board and commission
with authority to automatically suspend a licensee, under
circumstances determined by the respective licensing board, to
be an “immediate and clear danger to the public health and
safety.”
SB 354 passed the Senate in May and was referred to the House
Professional Licensure Committee for consideration.
Prohibiting Restrictive Covenants Not to Compete in Health
Care Provider Employment Contracts
According to Rep. DeLuca, the primary sponsor of HB 346,
non-complete clauses in health care provider employment
contracts “effectively limit a practitioners’ ability to find a new
employer, switch employers, continue seeing patients and
practicing in their community.” Supporters for this legislation
believe that practitioners’ options are too limited, especially for
young practitioners who have little option but to accept
contracts’ restrictive terms.
HB 346 has nine cosponsors and is assigned to the House Health
Committee for first consideration. PDA leaders are taking
all members’ concerns into consideration while formulating
a position on this bill.
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JU LY/AU GU ST 2017 | P EN N S YLVA N IA D EN TA L J O UR N A L
Electronic Prescription for Controlled Substances
Rep. Tedd Nesbit (R-Butler, Mercer) introduced HB 353, legislation
that would require health care providers to use electronic
prescriptions to prescribe controlled substances. There is an
exemption for emergency situations. No prescription for a
controlled substance in Schedule II could be refilled. For
Schedule III or IV drugs no prescription could be filled or refilled
more than six months after the date or be refilled more than
five times after the date of the prescription, unless renewed by
the provider. The prescription must be electronically transmitted
to the pharmacy of choice.
HB 353 has 22 cosponsors and was assigned to the House
Health Committee for first consideration. It passed the House of
Representatives in June and now resides in the Senate Health
and Human Services Committee.
Opioid Prescribing Guidelines
Sen. Gene Yaw introduced SB 655, legislation requiring
mandatory implementation of opioid prescribing guidelines
developed by the state’s Safe and Effective Prescribing Practices
Task Force.
Convened by the Department of Health and the Department
of Drug and Alcohol Programs, the task force developed
and approved a number of guidelines for different provider
groups, including:
• Emergency Department Pain Treatment Guidelines: To
appropriately relieve pain and attempt to identify those who
may be abusing or addicted to opioid analgesics and refer
them for special assistance.
• Opioid Use and Safe Prescribing for Geriatric Pain: Highlights
special problems concerning using opioids when treating
older adults for chronic non-cancer pain.
• Guidelines on the Use of Opioids to Treat Chronic Non-cancer
Pain: These guidelines address the use of opioids for the
treatment of chronic non-cancer pain. These guidelines do
not address the use of opioids for acute pain, nor do they
address the use of opioids for the treatment of pain at the
end-of-life.
• Guidelines on the Use of Opioids in a Dental Practice: These
guidelines address the use of opioids for the treatment of
acute dental pain.
• Obstetrics and Gynecology Pain Treatment: This guideline
addresses the use of opioids for the treatment of pain in
pregnant patients, during and immediately following delivery,
and during breastfeeding.