G ove r n men t Re lat ions
It seems like the question we ask ourselves every year is whether
or not the General Assembly and Wolf Administration will agree
on a budget for the current fiscal year by the June 30 deadline.
Legislators are now home until mid-September, so it is a perfect
time to meet with your senator and representative. Make an
appointment with your lawmakers and invite them to the local
diner for coffee and a donut. Consider having them speak at
your next local or district dental society meeting. Or schedule a
more formal meeting with them and their staff in the district
office. You can meet anytime over the summer or during PDA’s
Legislative Checkup Week, scheduled for September 10 -14.
We’ll send you all of the background information and talking
points you’ll need to discuss the legislation that will impact your
profession and patients.
Legislative Highlights
Assignment of Benefits Passes Hurdle in the House
In January, the Senate of Pennsylvania passed SB 373, PDA’s
legislation requiring insurers to assign benefits, on patient’s
request, to non-participating dentists. In June, PDA successfully
moved SB 373 out of the House Insurance Committee. This
proved to be a monumental feat, given last minute objections
from organizations that joined forces with the insurance lobby.
Your participation in this process is essential to moving SB 373
through the House of Representatives and on to Governor
Wolf for his signature. Please contact your representative and
request his or her support for SB 373, printer’s number 1287.
It will only take a few minutes of your time to make a big
investment in your practice. Ask your family, friends, office staff
and colleagues to also contact the committee members.
Contact the government relations department for talking points
and a sample letter at (800) 223-0016 or [email protected].
Assignment of benefits legislation is PDA’s top priority this
legislative session. PDA’s lobbyist, staff and volunteer leaders
drafted the legislation, found sponsors to introduce bills in both
the House of Representatives and Senate, and spearheaded
negotiations in both chambers to garner enough support for
legislative leaders to begin moving the bill through the Senate.
It is a monumental feat moving an insurance bill, one ardently
opposed by the insurance lobby, through the legislature.
PDA’s strength in advocacy proves that your dues dollars are
hard at work.
LEGISLATIVE CHECKUP WEEK
September 10 -14
For good oral health, you recommend your patients see you twice a year. For good
legislative health, we recommend you visit your local legislators at least twice a year.
Schedule An Appointment with your local representative and senator the week
of SEPTEMBER 10-14 in their hometown offices and see how they score on our issues.
You can even coordinate with your colleagues to make these visits together.
You’ll get to rate how “healthy” they are on our issues. Will they get a clean bill of
“health” or need follow-up and care?
PDA will supply all the information you need for you to prepare and make your visits
a success.
Questions? Need information? Contact Marisa Swarney, director of government
relations at (800) 223-0016, ext. 116, or [email protected].
JU LY/AU G U ST 2018 | P EN N SYLVAN IA DEN TAL JOURNAL
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