Government Relations
SB 842: Restricted licenses for internationally trained dentists
• Allows internationally trained dentists who serve as faculty to practice at dental schools and their affiliated health care facilities under a restricted license.
• Introduced by Senator Rosemary Brown and passed out of the Senate and the House Professional Licensure Committee in June.
SB 81 & HB 365: Dentist and Dental Hygienist Licensing Compact
• Rep. Frank Farry reintroduced legislation for the Commonwealth to join the licensing compact endorsed by the American Association of Dental Boards. Rep. Kyle Mullins reintroduced legislation for the Commonwealth to join the licensing compact proposed by the Council on State Governments. Both bills are assigned to the House Professional Licensure Committee.
• The Department of State is working to resolve issues that arise due to the Commonwealth’ s laws on clearances, specifically having to do with FBI checks for out-of-state practitioners applying for a compact privilege.
HB 1460 & SB 708: Health system mergers and acquisitions
• Requires sufficient notice of health systems’ proposed mergers and acquisitions to the Attorney General’ s Office, to assess how potential closures, consolidations, and reductions will impact the community.
• PDA and other dental groups successfully lobbied for an amendment that exempts dental practices, so long as they are not affiliated with a hospital or health system.
• Rep. Lisa Borowski and Sen. Michele Brooks are the prime sponsors. The House passed HB 1460 in June.
HB 583 and SB 860: Restoration of dental Medicaid coverage for adults
• Requires the Commonwealth to restore the dental benefits provided to adults prior to cuts that were made in 2011.
• The services covered prior to 2011, and those currently covered in the Medicaid program, are the minimum required. The Commonwealth could choose to cover additional services.
• Rep. Gina Curry reintroduced this bill and it passed the House of Representatives in June with a vote of 154-49. HB 583 is now in
8 SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2025 | PENNSYLVANIA DENTAL JOURNAL