Government Relations
PDA Lobbies to Preserves State Funding for Donated Dental Services Program
Due to PDA ’ s advocacy efforts with the House and Senate Appropriation Committees and legislative leaders , Pennsylvania ’ s state budget once again includes a request for funding for the Donated Dental Services ( DDS ) program . The funding enables Dental Lifeline Network , which operates the DDS program , to employ two regional coordinators who screen patients and connect them with volunteer dentists and dental labs . Patients who are elderly , medically fragile and / or disabled are eligible for the DDS program .
Pro Bono Continuing Education Credits
PDA staff and lobbyist worked with Sen . Scott Martin and his staff on legislation that allows dentists , dental hygienists and expanded function dental assistants to apply up to three hours of pro bono care to fulfill their continuing education requirement each biennial licensure renewal period . Our Government Relations Committee ( GRC ) was instrumental in suggesting language encompassing all the pathways by which dentists and other dental team members provide volunteer dental , dental hygiene and dental assisting care , while providing a mechanism for the proper accounting of volunteer hours with the State Board of Dentistry ( SBOD ). The SBOD may approve continuing education credit for clinical volunteer work only , which is important to ensuring that the hours substituted for classroom time still relate directly to dentists and dental team members maintaining clinical competency . It also gives the underserved more opportunity to access the dental care they need .
PDA lobbied the Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee members in support of SB 1173 . They voted unanimously in support and now SB 1173 moves to the full Senate for a vote .
Telehealth
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 . GRC ’ s Teledentistry Subcommittee reviews each legislative proposal for its impact on dentistry to ensure that standards of care are met with regards to patient examinations and supervision of other dental team members , and more .
PDA scored an advocacy win by successfully amending one of the telehealth bills , SB 705 , to include the following :
• Providers should use their best clinical judgement to determine whether a diagnosis and treatment plan can be rendered virtually .
• Disclosure for dentistry so that dentists offering online evaluations should inform patients that the service is not a comprehensive dental examination . The rationale for this is that this preserves the standard of care for dentists rendering exams , diagnoses and treatment plans , while providing the mechanism in which insurers should cover both a problemfocused virtual exam and in-person comprehensive exam .
SB 705 was voted out of committee with PDA ’ s amendment !
Legislative Study on Access to Dental Care in Rural PA
Rep . Kathy Rapp introduced HR 68 , which requires the House Legislative Budget and Finance Committee ( LBFC ) to study access to care in rural areas of the state , identify dental service delivery models that will improve access and reduce costs , and issue a report to the full House of Representatives within a year of the bill ’ s enactment . The committee will focus its research on alternative delivery models such as telehealth and mobile dentistry and the availability of dental care for Medical Assistance patients .
PDA lobbied in support of HR 68 , which the House of Representative unanimously adopted . PDA has offered resources to LBFC on the dental profession and oral health , and to put them in touch with members who practice in rural areas .
Third Party Payer Issues
While PDA ’ s lobbyists are still working every angle they can to push assignment of benefits legislation through the Senate , GRC has prepared for the introduction of other third-party payer issues , with a focus on credentialing . Recognizing that this is problematic for members , whether it be with commercial carriers or the managed care companies administering the Medical Assistance program , PDA ’ s bill will set a deadline for insurers to credential complete applications and prohibit insurers from requiring the same provider to credential in every practice site location in which they practice .
Medical Assistance Reforms and Funding
We are working with other stakeholders to advocate for more funding in the state ’ s budget for the dental Medical Assistance ( MA ) program . Budget negotiations are underway for the new fiscal year beginning on July 1 , and lobbyists from PDA and other dental organizations are talking with legislative leaders about the possibility of appropriating funds that are earmarked specifically for the dental program .
MAY / JUNE 2022 | PENNSYLVANIA DENTAL JOURNAL 9