| FDA Hearing on Dental Amalgam
The Food and Drug Administration is holding public hearings on
dental amalgam on December 14 and 15, 2010. The purpose of these
hearings is to address petitions received on the reclassification of
dental amalgam. Click
here for more information.
Attention PDA Members: Legislative Action Alert – SB 1222
Don’t let the summer go by without meeting with your senator about
SB 1222: legislation prohibiting insurers from capping non-covered
services. Your senator has returned to your district until
mid-September. We ask that you contact your senator before then to
educate him or her about the financial impact this insurance practice
has on your patients and your practice and the need to pass SB 1222
immediately upon their return to session this fall.
The August
issue of Transitions featured a call to action on this
bill and included everything you need to be an effective change agent,
such as background information, a sample letter and information on how
to contact your senator. Click
here to read President Dr. William Spruill’s most recent
blog, “Be the Change,” which contains additional
informational and talking points that will be helpful in your
conversations with senators regarding SB 1222. DEP Letter
Regarding CE X-ray Certification ClarifiedThe Department of
Environment Protection (DEP) recently sent a letter regarding the
continuing education (CE) requirements to maintain x-ray
certification. Click
here for more information about how to comply with CE
regulations. PDA Social Network is Open for
Business!
Take the Quiz For Your Chance to Win Free CEPDA is pleased to
launch its private social network for members! This network will give
you the ability to have increased communication with PDA leaders
and staff, as well as with your colleagues. For more information
about this new feature, including thorough usage instructions, please
download the March/April
issue of the Journal. Click here to
explore the social network and create your
profile. Don't forget to take the quiz on
the back page of August Transitions and return the completed
form to Rachel Damrauer,
communications coordinator, for your chance to win free registration to
any PDA-sponsored CE course being held this year. For a complete list of
upcoming CE courses, click
here. FTC Delays Enforcement of Red Flags Rule
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced May 28 that it has further
delayed enforcement of its Red Flags Rule until January 1, 2011. The
delay is intended to give Congress time to pass legislation that would
permanently exclude certain small businesses, including dental
practices, from the rule. Click here to read more.
PDA Legislative Victory
Governor Signs EFDA Bill
PDA’s advocacy efforts paid off with a legislative victory that
improves access to care and allows for more productivity in dental
offices and clinics. On April 29, Governor Rendell signed HB 602, now
Act 19, into law. Passage of this legislation is the culmination of
efforts made over the past three years by members who participated in
grassroots initiatives to educate lawmakers about the operation of
dental practices and the role of dental team members. PDA’s team
of lobbyists, public relations consultants and staff also engaged in a
campaign to inform the public and convince legislators, as well as the
Governor, of the need to pass this legislation.
PDA had this legislation introduced when Governor Rendell enacted a
law that allows for hygienists to practice as public health dental
hygienists in public settings. PDA argued successfully that an expansion
of duties would allow expanded function dental assistants (EFDAs) to
“fill the gaps” in those dental offices and clinics which
now have hygienists practicing in public settings. Act 19 allows
EFDAs to perform coronal polishing and fluoride varnish, and take
impressions of teeth for athletic appliances. It also appoints one EFDA
and an additional dentist to the State Board of Dentistry (SBOD),
maintaining a solid majority of dentists to decide on dental licensee
issues. Stay tuned for more information as the SBOD discusses how
Act 19 will impact practicing EFDAs, who may need trained to perform
these additional duties, and those who are currently enrolled in EFDA
programs. A heartfelt thank you goes out to all members who
participated in grassroots efforts to educate members of the General
Assembly and Governor’s
Administration. |
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