Government Relations
Pennsylvania’s E-Prescribing Law
The Pennsylvania General Assembly passed Act 96 of 2018, which requires most health care providers to electronically prescribe
all Schedule II-V controlled substances, except when they are directly dispensed or administered by the provider.
The Department of Health (DOH) has a FAQ page on its website to assist health care providers with compliance issues. One
question often asked is whether providers must comply if they have internet access but not an electronic health records
system (or vice versa). In its FAQ page, DOH now offers a differing interpretation of the law that health care providers who have
one of the above, but not the other, do not need to comply with the law.
However, please note that DOH has not promulgated final regulations and that its current interpretation of the law is subject
to change. PDA has requested that DOH’s current guidance that would exempt dentists who have one of the following—
either internet access or an electronic records system--but not the other, be permanent and formalized in regulation.
Because you are the best evaluator of your risk you should carefully consider compliance and contact Henry Schein, PDA’s
endorsed vendor, or another vendor for more information on setting up an E-prescription system for your office.
Helpful Links:
PDA Summary of Act 96 of 2018
https://www.padental.org/Online/Advocacy/Laws_and_Regulations/Legislative_Session/NewState_Law_Requires_
Use_Electronic_Prescriptions.aspx
Department of Health FAQs
https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/Documents/Programs/PA_EPCS_FAQ.pdf
Henry Schein:
http://www.pdais.com/endorsed-vendors/electronic-prescriptions/
PADPAC and Grassroots Efforts
The COVID-19 pandemic is still present in our lives, throughout
our nation and still in many parts of the world. As it appears it will
be part of our new reality for the foreseeable future, we need to
take steps today to maximize the impact of organized dentistry.
The pandemic has caused many changes to our individual and
collective lives. The one thing it has not changed is that that life is
always in a state of flux. The one constant in life is change. The
Pennsylvania General Assembly proves that theorem. The House
had a big personnel change in June. The Senate will have a big
personnel change when the 2021-22 legislative session begins in
January.
House Speaker Mike Turzai retired from the Pennsylvania House
to take a job in the private sector. That set off a chain reaction of
changing roles in the House. Rep. Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster)
moved from House Majority Leader to Speaker of the House. Rep.
Kerry Benninghoff (R-Centre) moved from Majority Whip to the
new Majority Leader. Rep. Donna Oberlander (R-Clarion) moved
from Policy Committee Chair to Majority Whip. The new leaders
are elected by their peers.
The Senate’s changes will take place in the fall.
Sen. Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson) will be retiring
from the Senate before year’s end. With his
position as President Pro Tempore becoming
vacant there could be a wholesale change in
Senate leadership. We will keep you posted as
events unfold and the players take on new roles.
As the General Assembly changes so must PADPAC. We know that
this current time is probably the most challenging of your
professional career, regardless of how long you’ve been practicing.
We also know that your personal life has been upended as well.
Please help your PAC remain strong and competitive so that we
can shape the policy debates that will be here very soon. Your
contributions enable your PAC to fight and win the battles that
will surely come.
In this period of uncertainty we know that we can count on you
to help your PAC so that your PAC can help you. Anything that you
can contribute toward building a better future is very much
8
JULY/AUGUST 2020 | PENNSYLVANIA DENTAL JOURNAL