PDA Bolstered By ADA’ s State Public Affairs Program in 2025
Since its inception, the ADA’ s State Public Affairs( SPA) program has evolved nationally and helped more than 35 state dental societies manage public affairs issues, build strong communication capabilities and bolster advocacy efforts.
For the past five years, PDA has applied for and been granted funding from the SPA program to enhance our lobbying efforts with third-party payer issues and Medicaid. PDA has used this funding to retain the services of a second contract lobbyist to assist our principal lobbyist at the Capitol. Additional“ boots on the ground” give PDA another strategic advantage, particularly during the most critical junctures of a bill’ s movement through the legislative process. Our involvement in the SPA program helped shift the momentum in our favor when lobbying for virtual credit card legislation, which became law in 2024, and to begin the education process with more legislators about our other dental insurance reform bills, and address concerns about dental workforce and access to dental care in the Commonwealth.
An exciting new component to PDA’ s participation in the SPA program was the launch of a public relations campaign that illustrates the need to make the Commonwealth a more attractive state in which to practice dentistry. The campaign, spearheaded by Amy Hill from Hill Communications Strategies, uses data, member testimonials, and PDA’ s policy goals to educate the public and policymakers on the barriers and solutions to maintaining an adequate dental workforce statewide.
With the recent attention focused on improving health outcomes in rural areas of the state, PDA’ s advocacy included testifying at a legislative hearing in July and meeting with the Department of Human Services to discuss the incorporation of dental health projects into its Rural Health Transformation Plan( see page 24 for more information). Our public relations message also shifted to focusing on the need to offer financial incentives and third-party payer reforms that will attract more dentists and dental team members to rural counties so that they can sustain viable dental offices and clinics for the long term.
One component of the public relations campaign is a resource for the media and policymakers to learn more about the challenges most dentists face, such as inadequate third-party payer reimbursement and the difficulty with recruiting dental hygienists and assistants, no matter the practice location. And while these difficulties are often magnified for dentists who practice in rural areas, they also experience other challenges unique to rural dentistry, such as finding a colleague for patients who need referrals or the inability to find another dentist to whom they can sell their practice.
Another aspect of PDA’ s public relations campaign is the release of letters to the editor and opinion pieces, to coincide with movement on PDA’ s goals to pass dental insurance and Medicaid reform legislation.
Because storytelling is an essential component to any public relations campaign, testimonials from PDA members have been woven into our communications so that the media and public gain awareness of and a greater appreciation for dental professionals and the challenges you and your patients face.
Thank you, ADA, for choosing Pennsylvania to be part of the SPA Program!
32 NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025 | PENNSYLVANIA DENTAL JOURNAL