Government Relations
The Pennsylvania General Assembly adjourned just a few days after the midterm elections , signaling the end of the two-year legislative session . Any bills that were introduced this session “ died ” during the sine die period and will need to be reintroduced when the General Assembly reconvenes in mid-January .
Lack of time turned out to be the primary enemy PDA faced in passing its top legislative goal , SB 1222 , to prohibit insurers from capping noncovered services . SB 1222 passed the Banking and Insurance Committee in June but stalled in the Senate Appropriations Committee due to the chair ’ s concerns about patient affordability of dental services once they have reached their maximum allowance .
Nonetheless , PDA scored a few successes during the 2009-2010 legislative session , most notably with the passage of HB 602 , legislation expanding the scope of practice for expanded function dental assistants ( EFDAs ) and the stalling of legislation that potentially impacts the use of dental amalgam as a viable restorative option .
HB 602 : EFDA Scope of Practice PDA was successful in passing HB 602 through the legislature this session , after four years of advocacy efforts made by lobbyists , staff and grassroots dentists .
HB 602 , now Act 19 , allows EFDAs to perform coronal polishing and fluoride applications and take impressions of teeth for athletic appliances . The State Board of Dentistry ( SBOD ) is promulgating regulations that , once approved , will likely require currently practicing EFDAs to complete a threecredit hour course on these expanded functions . These new functions will be integrated into the curriculum for all EFDAs enrolled in educational programs . Newly graduated EFDAs will not need to take three continuing education credits to perform these additional duties .
The SBOD is finalizing its regulations and they will most likely take effect early next year . Stay tuned for more information in PDA ’ s publications and on the website at www . padental . org .
SB 1222 : Prohibiting Insurers from Capping Non-Covered Services This year , PDA led the charge to pass legislation that would prohibit insurers from capping those dental services they do not cover in their plans . Sen . Kim Ward ( R-Westmoreland ) introduced SB 1222 on PDA ’ s behalf . Due to the grassroots efforts of members in their districts and during Day on the Hill at the Capitol on June 8 , SB 1222 passed the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee and moved to the Senate Appropriations Committee for consideration .
Most legislators seemed to understand the inherent unfairness of letting insurance companies dictate fees on services they have decided not to cover . However , a powerful insurance lobby confused the issue by convincing several legislators that the bill should include language that would prohibit dentists from charging their usual fee on covered services once the maximum allowance is met . PDA would not consider supporting such an amendment until it became apparent that Sen . Jake Corman ( R-Centre ), chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee , would not bring the bill up for a vote until a compromise was reached . However , by the time this occurred there were no more session days in the Senate in which to pass the bill . The session was cut short by the election and a decision by Senate leadership not to return before the end of the year .
This issue will remain at the forefront of PDA ’ s legislative agenda for the 2011-2012 session . Lobbyists and staff are already working to identify the right sponsors for legislation in both the House and Senate , hoping to find legislators willing to “ champion ” the bill with their colleagues until it passes the General Assembly . We will stick with the original language that addresses capping of non-covered dental services , and only consider compromising on the maximum allowance issue if necessary , thinking that such a compromise would have a minimal impact on your practice due to the fact that only three to five percent of patients reach their maximum benefit in a given year .
Thirty-one states have filed noncovered services bills and 16 states were successful in its passage . Stay turned for more information and for “ action alerts ” as PDA tries to capitalize on the national momentum to pass a non-covered services bill through the General Assembly next year .
HB 2684 : Requirements for Foreign-trained Dentists Teaching in Dental Schools At the request of the deans of Pennsylvania ’ s three dental schools , PDA supported a legislative initiative to change the requirements under Act 160 for foreign-trained dentists who are faculty at the dental schools .
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November / December 2010 • Pennsylvania Dental Journal
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