PDA Thanks Pennsylvania Lawmakers Who Support Dentistry
Insurance Connection
PDA extends its heartfelt thanks to those members of our General Assembly who have supported the dental profession and patients while serving as elected officials in the House and Senate . These legislators have a proven track record of introducing or supporting legislation that serves the public by improving access to dental care , primarily by advocating for important insurance reforms that will make it easier for dentists to provide care .
In recognition of these efforts , we are featuring the good work of Rep . Stanley Saylor ( R-York ) in this issue of the Journal , so that you are aware of his efforts on our behalf . PDA thanks Rep . Saylor for taking the time to answer our questions about his legislative initiatives and what he expects from the legislature next session . We appreciate his commitment to improving the dental delivery system in Pennsylvania by removing some of the administrative and financial barriers felt by both providers and patients .
Rep . Stan Saylor , Minority Policy Committee Chair
What motivated you to sponsor HB 1049 , legislation requiring insurers to cover general anesthesia for children and special need patients , when needed for dental treatment ?
My effort to ensure children and special needs patients have access to dental care began more than 10 years ago . After speaking with families and reviewing riveting film about the traumatic experiences of young children who were lucky enough to be able to visit a dental office , I learned of the extremely troubling and stressful dental office experiences some of these children had . Often , these patients leave the office without having a successful dental procedure and , as a result , they risk costly and severe dental complications .
This is when I first learned of the degree to which oral health care is being denied to pediatric patients and how treatment under general anesthesia in a dental office or a hospital is the only appropriate method to deliver necessary oral health care for some children and special needs patients . I recall a House Insurance Committee hearing on one of my first legislative proposals on this matter more than 10 years ago when we decided to show my colleagues some of the disturbing experiences . The room was still as images flashed across the screen . Most were in shock and some of the sternest men adopted the role of father as they watched these young children ’ s experiences . My message became clear – insurance companies refusing to cover anesthesia is equivalent to them denying oral health care for children and special need patients .
What do you see as the biggest challenge to the health care delivery system in Pennsylvania ?
Among the many challenges facing our health care delivery system is the lack of available , affordable health care . Health care costs are escalating faster than the rate of inflation and have led to the adoption of an unpopular law by Congress ( the Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act ). Health care costs eat up a sizeable portion of the state budget ( through programs such as Medial Assistance , CHIP , AdultBasic , PACE / PACENET and state government employment ) as well as the budgets and quality of life of Pennsylvania families . Our solutions need to increase efficiency while promoting independent decisionmaking for individuals to select appropriate care . Providers are burdened with uncompensated care and insurance and government reimbursements that fail to meet the costs . We need to do away with administrative waste and link provider reimbursements to the quality of service they provide patients . Having access to basic health care is a goal for many Pennsylvanians who are without insurance . A growing percentage of workers are losing their employerbased coverage and many others are underinsured or have lost benefits their plans previously offered . Public and private payers can offer reforms to foster the delivery of effective and affordable care .
How can the dental profession , and PDA in particular , assist you with ensuring that all your constituents have access to quality and timely dental care ?
PDA has been a valuable partner in advancing my legislation to provide accessible , affordable and quality dental care . I ask for your continued support of House Bill 1049 and House Bill 1046 . HB 1046 , which I am prime sponsor , offers incentives to students to pursue higher education and training in dentistry , establish quality oral health care
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November / December 2010 • Pennsylvania Dental Journal
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