Government Relations
covering some services even prior to the pandemic . A law would further define telehealth and third-party payment processes , and it would also provide more guidance to licensing boards promulgating regulations for their respective licensees who are engaging in telehealth services .
PDA ’ s Government Relations Committee ’ s Teledentistry Subcommittee is reviewing these legislative proposals and their impact on dentistry to ensure that standards of care are met with regards to patient examinations and supervision of other dental team members , and more . In June , PDA sent a letter to the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee with a request to amend certain provisions in SB 705 to make it more applicable to the delivery of dental , not medical , services . The committee amended SB 705 to include several of PDA ’ s recommendations .
HB 63 : Full Authorization for Dentists to Administer COVID Vaccine
At PDA ’ s request , Rep . John Lawrence ( R-Chester / Lancaster ) introduced HB 63 , which grants full authorization for dentists , hygienists and other providers to administer the COVID vaccine while there is a declared state of emergency . This legislation removes the state ’ s current requirement that a physician delegate and supervise the task .
The provisions in HB 63 is similar to the authorization created by a recent ruling from the U . S . Dept . of Health and Human Services . But having that language in Pennsylvania law would help lay the groundwork for PDA ’ s advocacy goal to pass legislation that allows dentists to administer other vaccines when the state of emergency is lifted .
The House Health Committee voted to move HB 63 and the House of Representatives passed this legislation by a vote of 135-66 in March . The Senate Health and Human Services Committee is likely to take up the issue due to its timeliness .
HB 325 : Authorizing Licensing Boards to Issue Advisory Opinions
Rep . Keith Greiner introduced HB 325 , legislation which would allow licensing boards to issue advisory opinions to licensees who request in interpretation of the board ’ s regulations for the profession . Licensed professionals who have questions on whether a certain action is permitted by their respective licensing board often ask the licensing board for advice prior to acting .
Currently , Title 63 , which outlines the powers and duties of licensing boards and commissions within the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs , does not give the boards and commissions authority to provide advisory opinions to licensees .
HB 325 will allow licensing boards to answer inquiries through the form of an advisory opinion , which would be legally nonbinding but could reduce the number of violations because licensees would have the means to determine if an action is in fact permissible .
PDA believes this legislation will help licensees who are trying in good faith to comply with the licensing board ’ s regulations but who sometimes have difficulty interpreting their meaning .
Grassroots Update
As we continue to exit the COVID-19 pandemic , we have good news about your political action committee , PADPAC .
By implementing our PAC plan we have nearly doubled our amount of hard dollars , which can be utilized for campaign contributions , in just two years . Each of you who has contributed for 2021 deserves your colleagues ’ thanks and admiration .
Most PDA members indicate advocacy is one of their most important issues . In order for our organization to be an effective advocate each PDA member needs to contribute so PADPAC is healthy and strong . We advocate and educate members of the Pennsylvania legislature and the Governor ’ s administration . The most efficacious way to do that is helping those who support organized dentistry via campaign contributions . We exercise our rights to lobby our government to explain why it ’ s important for state legislators to support dentistry and PDA . The only way for legislators to know and understand what our issues are is for you and PDA staff and lobbyists to tell them .
As you know , Assignment of Benefits ( AoB ) is one of our top priorities this legislative session . As part of our full court press to achieve a PDA high priority item we go to great lengths to accomplish your goals . One of the many things we are doing is building personal relationships with key senators who are in a position to impact AoB . The more dentists who attend these upcoming events the greater the odds of us achieving AoB .
8 JULY / AUGUST 2021 | PENNSYLVANIA DENTAL JOURNAL