Government Relations
Sen . Elder Vogel and Rep . Christina Sappey introduced similar bills , which regulate all sectors of the health care industry , including dentistry . Rep . Dan Frankel ( D-Allegheny ) is soon introducing telehealth legislation that is specific to the delivery of dental services in Pennsylvania .
PDA ’ s Government Relations Committee ’ s Teledentistry Subcommittee is reviewing these legislative proposals and their impact on dentistry to ensure that standards of care are met with regards to patient examinations and supervision of other dental team members , among other things . The subcommittee asked that Sen . Vogel and Rep . Frankel make several changes to their draft legislation to ensure standards of care for dentistry are met .
HB 681 : Restricted Covenants
Rep . Torren Ecker introduced legislation that essentially prohibits non-compete clauses in certain 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 .
The House Health Committee amended this bill in April so that it mostly applies to health care professionals who are affiliated with hospital systems . However , PDA ’ s Government Relations Committee is reviewing the amended bill to determine its potential impact on dentists , especially those who do have an affiliation with health systems . The GRC is considering all factors that are of concern to members based on the stage of their career and employment options .
HR 68 : Legislative Study on Dentistry in Rural PA ( HR 68 )
Rep . Kathy Rapp introduced a resolution directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a study and issue a report on the availability of dental services for individuals residing in rural areas of the state , particularly those who might face additional barriers due to having special needs . The House of Representatives voted unanimously in support of HR 68 in March .
PDA reached out to Rep . Rapp and members of the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to express support for HR 68 and offered to provide them with data and information related to access to dental care . We also offered to put the committee in touch with members who live in rural areas of the state and can speak to the barriers that they and their patients face .
HB 63 : Full Authorization for Dentists to Administer COVID Vaccine
At PDA ’ s request , Rep . John Lawrence ( R-Chester / Lancaster ) introduced HB 63 , which grants full authorization for dentists , hygienists and other providers to administer the COVID vaccine while there is a declared state of emergency . This legislation removes the state ’ s current requirement that a physician delegate and supervise the task .
The provisions in HB 63 is similar to the authorization created by a recent ruling from the U . S . Dept . of Health and Human Services . But having that language in Pennsylvania law would help lay the groundwork for PDA ’ s advocacy goal to pass legislation that allows dentists to administer other vaccines when the state of emergency is lifted .
The House Health Committee voted to move HB 63 and the House of Representatives passed this legislation by a vote of 135- 66 in March . The Senate Health and Human Services Committee is like to take up the issue in the fall .
8 MAY / JUNE 2021 | PENNSYLVANIA DENTAL JOURNAL