Government Relations
This year marks the close of a two-year legislative session , and it was one for the history books . PDA had the ball rolling on a number of legislative initiatives even before session started in January 2019 , including assignment of benefits , dental student loan forgiveness and more funding for Medical Assistance providers . Though legislative activity screeched to a halt , quite literally , this past March , there were a number of initiatives ( not all COVID-related ) that PDA continued to track and respond to as work slowly resumed at the Capitol over the summer months .
But , as could be expected , COVID-19 did impact legislative leaders ’ agenda in the House and Senate and how non-COVID issues fared in the process . Every bill noted in the following update “ died ” at the end of an abbreviated fall session due to the elections . We can expect to see most , if not all , of these bills introduced in some way , shape or form next session . Stay tuned for when the new session starts in January 2021 .
PDA Preserves State Funding for Donated Dental Services Program In May , the Pennsylvania General Assembly sent a $ 25.8 billion stop gap budget to Gov . Tom Wolf for approval . It also passed several measures often referred to as the “ code bills ” which often include other policy priorities of the General Assembly and direct how state agencies are to spend the money provided in the General Fund .
Pennsylvania ’ s “ code bills ” include two important oral health initiatives as part of the short-term budget agreement :
• It preserves funding for tobacco cessation and prevention programs . These programs are important for preventing the start of all tobacco use among youth and young adults and promoting cessation efforts among adults and youth to address all tobacco product use .
• It preserves funding for Donated Dental Services under the Department of Health . The $ 150,000 in funding enables Dental Lifeline Network to employ two regional coordinators who screen patients and connect them with volunteer dentists and dental labs .
COVID-Related Immunity for Health Care Providers Governor Wolf issued an executive order that provides some protection to health care providers , but it is limited in scope by only applying to health care providers who are treating patients for COVID-19 related illnesses .
PDA advocates for legislation or an order from the Governor that protects all health care providers who are not on the front line treating COVID-19 patients , but have nonetheless been impacted by the government ’ s guidance and directives . PDA supports legislation introduced by several lawmakers , including bills introduced by Sen . Lisa Baker ( SB 1239 ) and Sen . Michelle Brooks ( SB 1181 ). Both bills essentially :
• Provide immunity from civil liability for any injury or wrongful death arising from providers “ abandoning ” patients to whom they owed a duty to provide health care , when to a declared state or local emergency prevented the provider from providing the requisite health care .
• Provide immunity from civil liability for any injury or wrongful death arising from the delivery or withholding of health care when a state or local emergency result in a lack of resources that renders the health care provider unable to provide the level or manner or care that would have otherwise been provided .
As part of the Pennsylvania Provider Advocacy Coalition , PDA is advocating for legislation to pass at the federal and / or state level . The coalition is comprised of representatives from dozens of health care , business and judicial reform organizations .
PDA ’ s 2021 Elections
ELECTRONIC VOTING
All members are encouraged to participate in PDA ’ s annual electronic election . This year ’ s election includes voting for PDA ’ s Trustee to ADA ’ s Board of Trustees , PDA president-elect and delegates and alternates to ADA ’ s House of Delegates .
The roster of candidates and their profiles will be available for viewing on www . padental . org by December 31 , 2020 , and the electronic voting will begin on February 15 , 2021 .
The electronic ballot will be emailed to you . Please contact the membership department at membership @ padental . org to confirm that we have your email address on file .
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2020 | PENNSYLVANIA DENTAL JOURNAL 7