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N T S P R E S T I G I O U S
OUTSTANDING LEGISLATOR AWARD
This year PDA ’ s Government Relations Committee unanimously voted to award two legislators with the Kay F . Thompson Outstanding Legislator Award , for their efforts in sponsoring two of our legislative initiatives that passed the General Assembly during the 2011-2012 legislative session . Rep . Stan Saylor ( R-York ) received his reward during the PADPAC reception at PDA ’ s Annual Session in Hershey , April 26 . For more than a decade , Rep . Saylor sponsored and championed legislation requiring insurers to cover the cost of general anesthesia when needed to provide dental care to children seven years of age and younger and patients of any age with special needs . In 2012 , now Majority Whip for the Republican caucus , Rep . Saylor made known his intention to pass this legislation despite formidable opposition from insurance companies . He hosted a number of meetings with stakeholder groups that included PDA and brokered compromise language that all parties could agree to . His legislation was enacted in July and became effective in January 2013 .
Rep . Saylor , state representative for the 94 th legislative district , was elected in 1992 . He was elected by his colleagues to serve on the Republican Leadership Team as Policy Committee chairman in 2008 , and was promoted to Majority Whip in 2010 . As a leader in his Party , Rep . Saylor is instrumental in developing legislative priorities and agendas . He also serves on the House Rules Committee , the Bipartisan Management Committee , and is a member of several informal caucuses .
Unable to attend the PADPAC reception , Sen . Ward received her award during PDA ’ s Day on the Hill on June 4 . During the 2011-2012 legislative session , Sen . Ward reintroduced and championed legislation that would prohibit insurers from capping non-covered dental services . SB 1144 was signed into law Oct . 25 , 2012 and took effect Dec . 25 , 2012 . The Act applies to all dental insurance contracts written in Pennsylvania after that date . PDA asked Sen . Ward to introduce this legislation because some insurance carriers wanted to limit dentists from billing their full amount for services that are not covered under the terms of the patient ’ s contract . In order to obtain some protection from the insurance carriers ’ intentions , PDA and the insurance carriers agreed to a compromise that stipulates a dentist can be held to the insurance carriers ’ allowances only under specific circumstances ( see Insurance Connections article from the May / June 2013 Journal for more information ).
In 2008 , Senator Ward won the 39 th Senatorial District seat , the first woman to have ever done so . She currently serves as chair of the Senate Community , Economic and Recreational Development Committee and is a former chair of the Senate Aging and Youth Committee . Prior to her election , she served as a Westmoreland County Commissioner in 2007 , and on the Hempfield Township Board of Supervisors from 2002-07 , where she was chairwoman of the board for the last three years .
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