Government Relations
COVID-Related Immunity for Health Care Providers
Lawmakers in the House and Senate have reintroduced legislation that provide limited immunity protection for businesses and health care professionals who acted in good faith during the state of emergency .
Sens . Lisa Baker and Michelle Brooks introduced legislation that offers protections to health care providers , businesses and others due to the pandemic . Rep . Karen Boback introduced similar legislation in the House of Representations . These bills help protect health care professionals from the accusation of “ abandoning ” a patient when a state of emergency prevented them from providing care . It also helps protect providers who were unable to provide care or the manner of care they would typically provide due to lack of resources during the state of emergency .
PDA is part of a collective effort with other members of the Pennsylvania Provider Advocacy Coalition to pass legislation at the federal and / or state level , The coalition is comprised of representatives from dozens of health care , business and judicial reform organizations .
Non-Compete Clause in Provider Contracts
Rep . Torren Ecker introduced HB 861 , which prohibits noncompete clauses in employment contracts between health care practitioners . HB 681 , as amended in committee in the spring , is intended to apply to the physician community but there is some question as to whether the bill also applies to dentists who have affiliations with hospitals and health systems . And in situations where restrictive covenants are allowed , the bill stipulates limitations based on geography and length of time that a covenant is enforceable , and that it is applicable in most counties .
The House Health Committee passed HB 681 as amended in the spring , but it remains unclear whether the bill will continue moving through the House and over to the Senate . PDA ’ s Government Relations Committee continues to discuss the bill ’ s implications for the dental community , and the potential impact it has on all members at all stages of their dental career . We will continue to monitor and respond to this legislation as appropriate .
HB 63 : Full Authorization for Dentists to Administer COVID Vaccine
At PDA ’ s request , Rep . John Lawrence ( R-Chester / Lancaster ) introduced HB 63 , which grants full authorization for dentists , hygienists and other providers to administer the COVID vaccine while there is a declared state of emergency . This legislation removes the state ’ s current requirement that a physician delegate and supervise the task .
The provisions in HB 63 are similar to the authorization created by a recent ruling from the U . S . Dept . of Health and Human Services . But having that language in Pennsylvania law would help lay the groundwork for PDA ’ s advocacy goal to pass legislation that allows dentists to administer other vaccines when the state of emergency is lifted .
The House Health Committee voted to move HB 63 and the House of Representatives passed this legislation by a vote of 135-66 in March , but it did not move in the Senate . Since the emergency declaration in Pennsylvania was rescinded in June , PDA is developing a new strategy for pursuing PDA ’ s ultimate advocacy goal , whether to amend HB 63 or introduce a new bill that authorizes dentists to administer vaccines other than COVID .
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8 SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2021 | PENNSYLVANIA DENTAL JOURNAL