Government Relations
PDA will track more than 5,000 bills during the two-year session while closely monitoring and responding to any that impact the dental profession and the delivery of dental care to patients .
The new legislative session commenced in January 2021 with 5 new senators and 33 new representatives in the General Assembly . PDA will track more than 5,000 bills during the two-year session while closely monitoring and responding to any that impact the dental profession and the delivery of dental care to patients . These issues range from anything related to professional licensure and liability protections , scope of practice and supervision , insurance reform , patient access to care and standards of care , small business and corporate ownership and management , and government funding of dental programs .
In February , Governor Wolf gave his budget address for fiscal year 2021-22 , which begins this July . The House and Senate conducted hearings with the secretaries of the executive agencies to ask questions about the Governor ’ s budgetary requests , with more attention paid to the Department of Health ’ s implementation of its statewide vaccination plan . Negotiations are underway with the intent of passing the state ’ s budget by the constitutionally mandated deadline of June 30 .
PDA monitors the budgets from the departments of Health , Human Services , Insurance and Environmental Protection for their potential impact on dentistry and the delivery of health care services or programs . This includes funding for and operations of the dental Medical Assistance and CHIP programs , and funding for the state ’ s Health Care Practitioner Loan Repayment and Dental Lifeline Network ’ s Donated Dental Services program .
Legislative Update
PDA is pursuing our top two legislative goals : assignment of benefits and full authorization to administer vaccines . In addition , we are also responding to a couple of other pieces of legislation :
HB 466 : Dental Student Loan Forgiveness Rep . Karen Boback ( R-Luzerne ) introduced HB 466 , the Student Loan Forgiveness for Dentists Act , which creates a stand-alone loan repayment program for dentists . This program , administered by the Department of Health ( DOH ), would increase loan forgiveness up to $ 200,000 for a three-year , full-time commitment in one of Pennsylvania ’ s designated health professional shortage areas . If this law is enacted , general dentists and specialists who practice in areas and settings approved by DOH are eligible for student loan repayment .
Currently , dentists enrolled in DOH ’ s Primary Care Loan Repayment program are reimbursed up to $ 100,000 for a two-year , full-time commitment . DOH officials determine how many slots are available to dentists based on need and number of applicants . The number of slots available increases or decreases based on how DOH allocates its funding to all primary care practitioners , including dentists . The facility in which the dentist is practicing must first be approved before he or she can apply for loan repayment .
HB 488 was assigned to the House Education Committee in February . Student loan forgiveness is one of PDA ’ s top legislative priorities this session .
Restricted Covenant Rep . Torren Ecker introduced legislation that essentially prohibits non-compete clauses in health care provider contracts . His reasoning for introducing this bill is that it is against the public ’ s best interest to prohibit providers from rendering care to patients of record due to a change in employment . He views restricted covenants as a barrier to accessing care because it could inhibit providers from practicing in certain areas where they are needed .
The House Health Committee voted to amend HB 605 in March so that it mostly applies to health care providers affiliated with healthy systems . PDA will continue to monitor HB 605 and respond at the appropriate time .
Teledentistry PDA is monitoring and responding to several telehealth bills that have so far been introduced this session . These bills regulate the practice of telehealth services and mandate insurance payment . A law would further define telehealth and third-party payment processes . A law would also provide more guidance to licensing
MARCH / APRIL 2021 | PENNSYLVANIA DENTAL JOURNAL 7