G ove r n men t Re lat ions
On April 10, Dr. Jim Boyle and members of PDA’s Government
Relations Committee (GRC) presented the Kay Thompson
Outstanding Legislator award to Sen. John Eichelberger (R-Blair,
Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Cumberland) for having sponsored
SB 373, PDA’s assignment of benefits legislation. Sen. Eichelberger
was instrumental in spearheading SB 373 through the Senate
Banking and Insurance and Appropriations Committees, to the
full Senate for a vote in January. PDA is grateful for his support
of the dental community and commitment to improving access
to dental care for all Pennsylvanians.
ability to choose their dentist, regardless of the dentist’s
participation with their insurance plan. Members educated
lawmakers about how SB 373 will improve access to dental
care, particularly for those residing in rural areas and for children
whose parents are divorced or separated.
Dr. Darleen Oleski, Dr. Jim Boyle, State Sen. John Eichelberger,
Dr. Craig Eisenhart and Peg Callahan-Kuskin.
GRC members took this opportunity at the state Capitol to host
a breakfast for policy leaders in the House of Representatives,
educating them about the need to pass SB 373 this session.
These leaders decide which bills are placed on the legislative
calendar for votes, and their support is necessary to move SB 373
through the House Insurance and Appropriations Committees.
Afterward, the GRC members lobbied other lawmakers in the
House of Representatives about how SB 373 gives patients the
PDA members hosted a breakfast for leaders in the
House of Representatives to discuss SB 373.
This small group of dedicated volunteers is working hard to
advocate for all dentists and patients. But they need your help.
Please respond to PDA’s action alerts, sent via email, in a timely
manner. Though the legislature is soon adjourned for the
summer, we expect to send more action alerts on SB 373 in the
fall. Many legislators will vote on the premise of whether or not
they heard from dentists in their districts. They will have heard
from the insurance industry lobbyists. Please take a few minutes
to send an email or make a phone call to your Representative
requesting support for SB 373.
SB 373: Assignment of Benefits
On January 22, the Senate of Pennsylvania passed SB 373, PDA’s
legislation requiring insurers to assign benefits, on patient’s
request, to non-participating dentists. SB 373 moved to the House
Insurance Committee in the House of Representatives. From
there, it will move to the Appropriations Committee to the House
floor for a vote.
Assignment of benefits legislation is PDA’s top priority this
legislative session. PDA’s lobbyist, staff and volunteer leaders
drafted the legislation, found sponsors to introduce bills in both
the House of Representatives and Senate, and spearheaded
negotiations in both chambers to garner enough support for
legislative leaders to begin moving the bill through the Senate.
We are optimistic that the House of Representatives will pass
SB 373 before the end of session in late fall.
MAY/JU N E 2018 | P EN N SYLVAN IA DEN TAL JOURNAL
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