Government Relations
It’ s been a particularly busy time at the state Capitol as legislative leaders wrapped up budget negotiations with the Governor’ s Administration for FY 2025-26. Unpredictability at the federal level trickled down to the state, delaying enactment of a budget indefinitely. Despite focus on the budget process, legislators continued to introduce and champion other bills. In June, Sen. Dave Argall introduced PDA’ s credentialing reform bill in the Senate and several bills impacting dentistry passed the House of Representatives( but not the Senate).
Thanks to the generosity of our PADPAC donors, volunteer leaders were able to accompany PDA’ s lobbyists and government relations staff to a number of fundraisers this summer to build relationships with legislators that paved the way for discussions on our dental insurance reform initiatives, and unfair insurance practices’ correlation to the Commonwealth’ s dental workforce and ability to attract and retain dentists.
LEGISLATION TO WATCH:
SB 849: Community Water Fluoridation Ban
• Sen. Dawn Keefer and Rep. Jason Ortitay introduced bills modeled after Utah and Florida’ s legislation to ban community water fluoridation at the optimal level in all of the Commonwealth’ s public water supplies.
• PDA opposes these bills and is prepared to respond should they start moving through the legislature. We’ ve developed a network of dentists to help respond to media inquiries and educate key legislators who decide which bills are sent to the House or Senate floor for votes.
HB 1325: Dental Loss Ratio Reporting
• Rep. Kyle Mullins reintroduced legislation requiring dental insurers to report their dental loss ratios( DLR) to the Pennsylvania Insurance Department( PID).
• A law establishing a reporting requirement on an MLR for dentistry— the percentage of revenue from premiums spent on patient care— would enhance transparency for patients seeking oral health care and make dental insurers more accountable.
• PDA is involved in stakeholder discussions with dental insurers and the PID to reach a consensus that will move the bill out of the House Insurance Committee.
HB 1290: Licensing Board Advisory Opinions
• Allows licensees to make a written request that their respective licensing board render advisory opinions that clarify or interpret regulations relevant to the licensee.
• Boards would have 30 days to render an advisory opinion after receiving a written request.
• Advisory opinions would be binding on the licensing board solely with respect to the licensee to whom it is issued.
SB 614: Primary Care Preceptorship Program for Community Health Centers
• Authorizes the Pennsylvania Department of Health to establish a Federally Qualified Health Clinic( FQHC) primary care workforce initiative that includes different healthcare fields, including dentistry.
• Goal is to offer clinical rotations at FQHCs to students attending an accredited school.
• The legislature would appropriate $ 2.5 million for grants awarded under this preceptorship program.
• Sen. Brook’ s bill was introduced in April and assigned to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee.
HB 544 and SB 888: Credentialing Reforms
• Requires practitioners and insurers to use the CAQH system.
• Requires timely notice to applicants when an application is incomplete.
• Limits the credentialing period to 45 days.
• Streamlines the process for practitioners practicing in multiple locations.
• Introduced by Rep. Steve Mentzer in the House and assigned to the House Insurance Committee and introduced by Sen. Dave Argall in the Senate and assigned to the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee.
HB 583 and SB 860: Restoration of dental Medicaid coverage for adults
• Requires the Commonwealth to restore the dental benefits provided to adults prior to cuts that were made in 2011.
• The services covered prior to 2011, and those currently covered in the Medicaid program, are the minimum required. The Commonwealth could choose to cover additional services.
• Rep. Gina Curry reintroduced this bill and it passed the House of Representatives in June with a vote of 154-49. HB 583 is now in the Senate for consideration. Sen. Jay Costa reintroduced his bill in the Senate, but the committee has not considered the bill and it is unclear which of the two bills will continue moving through the legislative process.
JULY / AUGUST 2025 | PENNSYLVANIA DENTAL JOURNAL 7