GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
As legislators return to Harrisburg and we get into the swing of the fall legislative session , PDA is stopping to assess where our legislative initiatives stand with only a few months remaining in 2013 .
In June , we scored a legislative victory when Donated Dental Services ( DDS ) funding was reinstated in the Commonwealth ’ s budget . By restoring funding for the program , hundreds of Pennsylvanians will have access to the dental care they desperately need . The reinstatement of DDS program funding was due largely in part to the more than 115 members , spouses and dental students who attended Day on the Hill . Please turn to page 17 for a feature story on Day on the Hill .
Our remaining initiatives have seen little movement due to budget negotiations followed by the summer break in the legislative session . As session resumes , PDA is hard at work attempting to achieve our remaining legislative priority for this session : assignment of benefits legislation .
Donated Dental Services Funding Update
We scored a legislative victory in June when funding was fully restored for the Donated Dental Services ( DDS ) Program in Pennsylvania . The program , which is administered by Dental Lifeline Network , facilitates care for patients in the Commonwealth who are elderly , disabled or medically compromised and unable to afford the cost of care . The restoration in funding will allow Dental Lifeline Network to restore one regional coordinator position in the eastern part of the state while maintaining the coordinator already existing in western Pennsylvania . These individuals screen patients , recruit volunteer dentists and laboratories and handle the administrative and logistical tasks for volunteers and patients .
As budget negotiations came to a close , PDA learned that the Administration and
General Assembly agreed to insert language into the budget requiring “ sufficient funding ” for the DDS program . It was confirmed that the Department of Health will appropriate the requested amount of $ 150,000 that is needed to facilitate the program . None of the funding is distributed to the volunteer dentists or dental laboratories who will provide more than $ 1 million in free dental care of hundreds of Pennsylvanians .
The next step is for the Department of Health and Dental Lifeline Network to enter into a contractual agreement before Dental Lifeline Network fills the vacant coordinator position .
Assignment of Benefits ( SB 520 )
SB 520 would require insurers to make payments directly to dental providers , regardless of whether they participate with the patient ’ s insurance plan . The legislation would not change the amount insurers would pay for services , but rather who they reimburse for the services . The legislation is currently awaiting consideration from the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee .
Volunteer Dentistry ( HB 1056 )
In April , HB 1056 passed the House of Representatives , and is now waiting for consideration from the Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee .
HB 1056 would allow the State Board of Dentistry ( SBOD ) to issue temporary volunteer licenses to dentists who are in good standing in other states or territories , so that they may volunteer at charitable events , or provide care during emergencies in Pennsylvania . Currently , dentists from other states are prohibited from volunteering at events like Mission of Mercy and Give Kids a Smile , which provide direct access to dental services to underserved populations . Under the legislation , the SBOD could issue one
30-day temporary volunteer license per applicant , or up to three 10-day temporary volunteer licenses per applicant per year .
Foreign-Trained Dental School Faculty ( HB 272 )
HB 272 , which would change licensure requirements for foreign-trained dentists teaching in Pennsylvania dental schools , is currently awaiting consideration from the Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee . Currently , foreign-trained dentists who are teaching in Pennsylvania dental schools must obtain a Pennsylvania license within four years of teaching at the dental school . The legislation would allow foreign-trained dentists unlimited renewal of a restricted faculty license , if they have successfully completed a specialty dentistry program or advanced dental training in the a clinical field approved by the ADA Commission on Dental Accreditation . Those holding a restricted faculty license will be able to renew biennially and will be required to complete 30 credits hours of continuing education each renewal period .
Health Practitioner Student Loan Forgiveness ( HB 542 )
HB 542 , which would establish a Loan Forgiveness for Dentists Program administered by the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency ( PHEAA ), is currently awaiting consideration from the House Education Committee . The Department of Health currently pays up to $ 64,000 toward the cost of a dentist ’ s student loans in exchange for the dentist serving in a designated health professional shortage area for four years . Under the legislation , PHEAA could forgive 50 percent of the loan , not to exceed $ 100,000 , if the dentist would enter into a contract requiring them to practice full time in an underserved area for four consecutive years .
S E P T / O C T 2 0 1 3 | P E N N S Y LVA N I A D E N TA L J O U R N A L 9