Government Relations
The General Assembly returned to session in mid-September with a renewed focus on addressing COVID-19 related issues for the remainder of the year . With less than a dozen session days scheduled , we can expect the House and Senate to be rather selective as to what will gain traction during the waning days of 2020 . Since the General Assembly only passed a stop-gap budget during the height of the pandemic that provides funding for the first half of the fiscal year , there will be much attention given to passing another six-month budget that will carry the state through to the end of the fiscal year in June 2021 .
In addition to the general budget funding , the General Assembly passed several measures often referred to as “ code bills .” These often include other policy priorities of the General Assembly and direct how state agencies are to the spend the money . The short-term budget agreement for the state ’ s code bills preserves funding for the Dental Lifeline Network ’ s Donated Dental Services program under the Department of Health . The $ 150,000 appropriation enables the DDS program administrators to screen eligible patients for free care offered by volunteer dentists and dental labs .
Though time is not on our side , PDA continues to lobby for the dental profession and for your patients . We remain committed to passing Assignment of Benefits legislation . We are also spearheading new legislative initiatives related to COVID-19 , including better immunity for health care providers and expanding the ability for dentists to order and administer diagnostic tests and vaccines . We are already laying the groundwork for next session with the introduction of other third-party payer issues aimed at leveling the playing field and easing administrative burdens for dentists .
Stay tuned for the Government Relations feature in the November / December Journal for a comprehensive update on all of PDA ’ s advocacy efforts during the pandemic and our plans for the 2021-22 legislative session !
PDA Legislative Action Alert : Assignment of Benefits
We have a handful of session days remaining to convince the PA General Assembly to pass HB 564 , assignment of benefits legislation . Take these simple steps to advocate for your profession and patients .
STEP 1 : CALL OR VISIT Don ’ t delay--please CALL or VISIT your representative and senator in the district office to discuss how assignment of benefits legislation gives patients more freedom to choose their dentist !
You can find your legislator ’ s contact information here : www . legis . pa . state . us . Type in your home address in the boxes on the left side of the screen and that will link you to your state lawmakers and his / her contact information . Or contact PDA ’ s government relations staff at jpb @ padental . org or mss @ padental . org , and we ’ ll look up that information for you .
STEP 2 : THE ASK Ask your representative and senator to support Representative Saylor ’ s Assignment of Benefits ( HB 564 ) legislation . Emphasize that HB 564 is all about giving patients the freedom to choose . HB 564 puts the power in patients ’ hands .
STEP 3 : FOLLOW-UP Contact PDA ’ s government relations staff at jpb @ padental . org or mss @ padental . org to tell us what kind of response you received from your legislators . Did he / she express support or opposition ? Does he / she need more information ? This will help us tally up the vote and target the right lawmakers .
TALKING POINTS : HB 564 enhances patient choice and alleviates financial burdens . Patients can still choose a participating dentist who will accept direct payment in full . Patients can still choose not to assign the benefit to a non-participating provider and pay upfront or work out a payment plan with the dentist . But the benefit of HB 564 is that patients now have another option — to assign their dental benefit to the non-participating provider , avoiding the burden of paying out of pocket . This third option will help many of your constituents who face untenable situations based on finances and socioeconomic status , geography and familial circumstances .
Assignment of benefits legislation is already in place in 22 states . Insurance companies oppose assignment of benefits laws , claiming they will weaken provider networks . Empirical evidence does not substantiate the claim that provider networks are weakened in states with assignment of benefits laws . Most recently , a study from Florida after it enacted assignment of benefits legislation found no net loss in physicians ’ participation in network plans .
Of the 22 states with assignment of benefits laws , there is no data illustrating increased cost to patients . A study from the Indiana Health Law Review found that assignment of benefits laws eliminates many of the administrative hassles associated with billing and payment experienced by both providers and patients , and can even reduce the need for providers to raise rates .
SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 | PENNSYLVANIA DENTAL JOURNAL 7