Government Relations
In ongoing discussions with lawmakers , PDA emphasizes how surprise balance billing is not germane to dental offices and that linking dentistry to surprise billing is an attempt by insurers to intervene and control the doctor-patient relationship . Lobbyists for the insurance companies imply that any charge to the patient above what the insurer pays for a procedure is “ surprise ” balance billing , but the actual “ surprise ” is when patients receive a balance billing they did not expect , typically when they receive care from a provider who is out-of-network in a facility that is in-network . Unlike the experience patients may have when treated by physicians or when in the hospital setting , patients receiving dental care from non-participating providers are not surprised by unexpected bills after treatment is rendered . The cost of treatment and an agreement to pay the remaining balance are agreed to in advance . PDA ’ s goal is to not allow insurance lobbyists to use the issue of “ surprise ” billing to cloud our advocacy efforts related to passing assignment-of-benefits legislation .
Health Practitioner Loan Forgiveness Rep . Karen Boback introduced the Student Loan Forgiveness for Dentists Act , which would create a stand-alone program that offers student loan forgiveness to eligible dentists . HB 476 would allow the state to contract with dentists and pay up to $ 200,000 in student debt relief to dentists who agree to practice full-time for three consecutive years in a designated dental health professional shortage area .
Currently , Pennsylvania ’ s Department of Health ( DOH ) operates a program that has a general fund used to award and appropriate loan forgiveness to health care providers , including dentists . The number of loans awarded to dentists depends on the DOH ’ s assessment of the need for medical , dental and behavioral services in shortage areas . The current program awards dentists up to $ 100,000 in student loan forgiveness for a two-year , full-time commitment .
HB 476 was assigned to the House Education Committee . PDA expects that it will be reintroduced next session .
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2020 | PENNSYLVANIA DENTAL JOURNAL 9