Government Relations
The month of March begins “ budget season ” in Pennsylvania , when the House and Senate Appropriations Committees hold public hearings to question the Governor ’ s executive agencies about his budget proposal for fiscal year 2022-23 . PDA will monitor and respond to any issues that are raised during the hearings with officials from the Departments of Health , Human Services , Environmental Protection , Aging and Insurance . These agencies all implement programs and enforce policies that impact the dental profession to some degree .
In February , Gov . Tom Wolf gave his budget address , highlighting his priorities for the remainder of his term . Health-related policy initiatives include :
• $ 4 million to increase the state ’ s public health workforce , operations and regulatory functions , to include a staff increase at the Department of Health , specifically the state laboratory .
• $ 7.2 million to invest in county and municipal health departments .
Gov . Wolf also announced his plan to spend billions of dollars of American Rescue Plan Act ( ARPA ) funding that the federal government gave Pennsylvania to help weather the COVID-19 pandemic .
Gov . Wolf ’ s plans for ARPA include :
• $ 500 million to create the PA Opportunity Program to provide relief to workers and families from the high cost of childcare and household expenses and support opportunities to complete a degree , credential , or license to strengthen skills and increase income .
• $ 225 million to help 11,000 small businesses through the COVID Relief Statewide Small Business Assistance Program . The grants will help small businesses to stabilize and reopen .
• $ 204 million to increase property tax relief through the existing Property Tax / Rent Rebate Program .
• $ 325 million to support health care workers in Pennsylvania .
• $ 450 million to invest in vital conservation , recreation , preservation , and community revitalization projects and address the threat of climate change .
Legislative leaders have already expressed reticence with appropriating that much money in ARPA funds , suggesting that some should remain in reserve . Pennsylvania received $ 7.29 billion in ARPA funds and it all must be used by the end of 2024 . So far , the General Assembly has appropriated approximately $ 1.04 billion in discretionary ARPA funds .
Also in February , PDA ’ s Government Relations Committee convened to discuss legislative priorities and strategy for the remainder of session this year . The committee is exploring the introduction of other third-party payer legislation , including a bill to improve the credentialing process for dentists by limiting the timeframe it takes for insurers to credential and only requiring dentists who practice in multiple locations to credential with the same insurer once . The committee is also exploring opportunities to address low reimbursement rates from commercial insurers .
While the focus from now until the end of June remains on passing the budget , there is still ample opportunity to move other legislation through the process . PDA continues to lobby for assignment of benefits legislation , which would require insurers to honor patients ’ requests to assign their benefits directly to non-participating dentists . Our voice at the Capitol is amplified by the additional lobbyists we have been able to hire because of our involvement in the ADA ’ s State Public Affairs program , and with our coalition of other dental stakeholder organizations which have also made assignment of benefits legislation a priority .
PDA is also working with a broad coalition of stakeholders to increase funding in the state ’ s Medical Assistance program and loan forgiveness program . We ’ re monitoring movement of legislation addressing telehealth , restricted covenants , COVID relief , public health dental hygienists screening children in school , and continuing education credit for pro bono services . Stay turned for a more complete update in the May / June Journal !
MARCH / APRIL 2022 | PENNSYLVANIA DENTAL JOURNAL 7