SBOD UPDATE
Department of Health: Regulation of dental laboratories
PDA is encouraging DOH to consider adopting regulations
or internal policies to ensure more accountability from dental
laboratories, including requirements for the following:
• Reporting the point of origin for where the device or material
is fabricated.
• Disclosing materials contained in dental prosthetics.
• Registration of out-of-state laboratories doing business
in Pennsylvania.
• Dental labs employing at least one certified dental technician.
• Certified dental technicians obtaining continuing
education credits.
Department of Insurance: Balance Billing
The Department of Insurance is proposing legislation regarding
the issue of balance billing, which occurs when a patient receives
a bill for health care from a provider who is not in-network with
the patient’s insurance company. PDA submitted testimony to
the Department to clarify how the issue of balance billing works
in dental offices. We will continue to monitor the department’s
activities to ensure that any policies or regulations that are
promulgated do not negatively impact dentists’ billing procedures.
PENNSYLVANIA COALITION FOR ORAL
HEALTH MAKES STRIDES IN IMPROVING
ORAL HEALTH CARE FOR ALL
The Pennsylvania Coalition for Oral Health (PCOH) is comprised of
a diverse group of leaders from across the state from schools of public
health, philanthropic organizations, businesses, dental organizations,
health insurance plans, advocacy organizations, state agencies and
other champions. PDA is a founding member of PCOH and several
members serve in leadership positions, helping to steer the direction
PCOH takes on policy and other oral health care initiatives.
PCOH advances policies and practices that increase access to oral
health services, education, and prevention especially for our most
vulnerable Pennsylvanians. Its mission is to “actively promote
evidence-based preventive services and research; promote and fund
strategies that will increase the oral health workforce capacity and
effectiveness; and, fund oral health infrastructure in the Pennsylvania
Department of Health.”
Have an interest in joining the coalition as an individual or as
a representative of your place of employment? Contact Lisa
Schildhorn, PCOH’s executive director, at (610) 247-3360 or
[email protected], for more information and to sign on as
a member.
NEW REGULATIONS
FOR DENTISTS
This year Pennsylvania State Board of Dentistry
(SBOD) is working to finalize a number of regulatory
proposals, many of which will impact how you run
your office. Here are new regulations you can expect
to take effect sometime in the near future:
ANESTHESIA PERMIT HOLDERS:
Proposed regulations will update the standards
for anesthesia permit holders. There will be new
regulations pertaining to the issue of administering
oral sedatives and “stacking” medications.
CHILD ABUSE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS:
Proposed regulations will update the SBOD’s existing
regulations to include the new requirements for
applicants and licensees to obtain the required amount
of training and continuing education in child abuse
recognition and reporting.
GENERAL REVISIONS OF 49 PA. CODE:
The SBOD reviewed existing regulations with the
goal of updating regulations and updating outdated
and obsolete provisions. There will be a brand-new
requirement for dentists to install an AED in
their offices.
SCHEDULE OF CIVIL PENALTIES:
The SBOD proposed increases in the amounts in the
schedule of civil penalties for lapsed license/certificate
violations. The SBOD believes that it is necessary to
increase the civil penalties to deter prospective violators.
RESTRICTED FACULTY LICENSES:
New regulations will allow for restricted dental school
faculty licenses, which are granted to individuals for
the limited purpose of teaching in a dental school
or advanced dental education program as a faculty
member of an accredited dental school.
TEMPORARY VOLUNTEER DENTAL
LICENSES: Act 7 of 2014 established the procedures
in which to apply for a temporary volunteer dental
license. The purpose of Act 7 of 2014 is to allow for
out-of-state dentists to volunteer their services in
Pennsylvania at charitable events sponsored by PDA
or other organizations.
What’s on the horizon? Stay tuned as the SBOD
explores whether to promulgate regulations pertaining
to issues such as sleep apnea, botox injections, teeth
whitening services, corporate dentistry and mobile
dentistry. PDA will continue to monitor all SBOD
activities, submit comments and keep members
informed of new regulations that take effect.
31