Government Relations
We are currently working with House Insurance Committee staff on language in our DLR legislation, specifically related to the size of employer-offered dental plans that would have to report their DLRs to the Pennsylvania Insurance Department. It’ s a positive sign that Committee staff has reached out to the stakeholder community to solicit feedback on PDA’ s credentialing bill. Further, they have reached out to the Senate Committee chair, requesting a vote on his bill.
PDA Launches Public Relations Campaign on the Dental Workforce in PA
PDA was front and center at City & State’ s Pennsylvania Healthcare Summit in Harrisburg, at which more than 200 health care leaders, state policymakers, and advocates, engaged in dialogue about how to improve the health care delivery system for all Pennsylvanians.
Ward Blackwell, PDA’ s executive director, introduced the event’ s keynote speaker, Lindsey Mauldin, deputy chief of staff for the Department of Human Services. In his remarks, he highlighted the looming dental workforce crisis, noting that Pennsylvania ranked first in the nation for the number of dentists moving out of the state to practice elsewhere, and that PDA’ s Pennsylvania’ s Dentistry Crisis: Call to Action offers recommendations to reverse the trend and improve access to dental care by enacting common sense dental insurance reforms. Stay tuned for a comprehensive report on PDA’ s public relations campaign in the May / June Journal.
Pennsylvania’ s 2026-27 Budget
On February 3, Governor Josh Shapiro presented his annual budget address to the Pennsylvania General Assembly, outlining a proposed $ 53.2 billion spending plan for the 2026-27 fiscal year. The proposal continues several policy themes from his prior years, combining sustained funding for core public services with targeted investments in education, public safety and economic development. The administration has framed the plan as maintaining fiscal stability while avoiding broad-based tax increases.
Health and Human Services Funding
The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services continues to represent a major share of health and human services funding. Budget priorities include supporting families and the workforce that delivers care to children, older adults, and individuals with disabilities. Prior initiatives have included workforce incentives for childcare and direct care workers, reflecting a broader policy goal of stabilizing essential care systems while enabling more Pennsylvanians to participate in the workforce.
PDA Submits Fluoride Comments to EPA
PDA submitted comments to the United States Environmental Protection Agency regarding its proposed Fluoride Preliminary Assessment Plan, which will be used to inform future decisions about potential revisions to the existing fluoride drinking water standard under the Safe Drinking Water Act( SDWA). Hundreds of comments were filed before the public comment period closed in late February.
PDA’ s comments aligned with those of the ADA, emphasizing the safety of fluoride in drinking water when adjusted to the optimal level, as well as:
• Requesting that the EPA use the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine( NASEM) to peer review the assessment plan prior to finalization.
• Requesting that the EPA exclude biased non-peer reviewed studies and erroneous research that the well-respected scientific community does not support because it lacks evidence-based science.
The budget continues support for Medicaid, known in Pennsylvania as Medical Assistance, which provides health coverage to millions of residents. As in many states, rising health care costs continue to place pressure on the program. The administration’ s proposal emphasizes maintaining access to essential services for low-income individuals and families, positioning Medicaid as both a health coverage program and a key economic support. The budget proposal does not include funding for a restoration of comprehensive dental coverage for adults; however, there are bills in the House and Senate to do just that.
Recent state-level discussions have also highlighted uncertainty related to potential federal policy changes that could affect eligibility and funding levels. Within that context, the proposed budget maintains a focus on preserving coverage and stabilizing the system amid external fiscal and policy variables.
Health Care Workforce, Rural Access, and Dentistry
Workforce shortages across the health care sector remain a persistent challenge, particularly in rural communities. Recent administration budget narratives have emphasized recruitment and retention efforts to strengthen the provider pipeline in underserved areas, including primary care, behavioral health, and specialty services.
6 MARCH / APRIL 2026 | PENNSYLVANIA DENTAL JOURNAL