A senate bill was passed to eliminate radiation fees for pro bono dental clinics in order to reduce their operation costs.
The bill was passed on the third reading on March 21 in the Senate committee for Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs. On the 22 it was moved to the House where another hearing was held and was passed on April 4, by the Environment and Transportation Committee.
Sen. Adelaide Eckardt is the sponsor of the bill which was supported by dentists and lobbyists alike. The bill was proposed to be in favor of the Mission of Mercy and benefit them and their cause.
The Mission of Mercy events are set up by Dr. Rowland Holsinger and other dentists, happen once a year in Maryland at the Wicomico Youth and Civic Center. A pro bono dental clinic is established and the radiation fees range from $320 to $720.
The fees are currently paid by the Mission of Mercy. They are the cost that dental practitioners have to pay for using radiation.
According to Eckardt, the Maryland Department of the Environment is in agreement with the removal of the fees. They obtained a letter of support of the department to add to their testimony.
“Folks come and stand around the building for almost 24 hours to stand in line to get free dental care. I think offsetting this fee would be a great a help to what they are doing and a commitment on our parts,” Eckardt said.
Lobbyist and member of the Maryland State Dental Association, Dan Doherty, spoke on behalf of the bill and the benefits it would give to programs like the Mission of Mercy Project. In Maryland, this project has treated almost 3,500 people in just four events and $3.5 million in dental care.
Holsinger discovered after a meeting with Maryland Department of the Environment that the only way the fee could be removed was by a piece of legislature. He believed that it would be beneficial for the group of dentists to focus on helping the patients rather than raising more funds to pay the extra fees on the X-ray machines.
Doherty also believes that the fees that machines cost, only add more to the cost of the free clinics. He said, “It lets that money, in addition, to be used to providing care and materials to these patients.”
In the special circumstances, the pro bono clinics are paying more fees as an extra precaution to not be in violations of any laws. Holsinger said “It would make my job easier if I didn’t have so much extra interaction with the Maryland Board of the Environment and I’m begging people to donate me X-ray machines that’s going to cost me $60,000.”
Eckardt and Holsinger both find it beneficial for the program to reduce any costs. Holsinger implied that the Maryland Board of the Environment would cut back the funds if they could, but it would have to pass some type of legislation.
If passed, this emergency bill will go into effect starting June 30. It would apply to any pro bono dental clinic with the proper permits. The bill “provides all services on a pro bono basis and operates fewer than 100 hours a year,” for those dental clinics that fall under that category.
These would not cover a lot of those operated by non-profit agencies that offer free or reduced dental procedures, because they operate consistently on a reduced rate. This would only remove the cost for the very specific clinics that are named as temporary dental clinics.
The only financial impact that this would have for the state is that it would be a slight reduction in the amount they would collect yearly in fees from such organizations. This is the only financial impact recognized by the bill that would affect the Maryland Department of the Environment and would not have any expenditure.
There was concern that the machines would not be inspected, but it was pointed out by Holsinger that they have the same requirements.
There was no opposition to the bill in either the House or Senate, however, the Senate did only vote favorable with amendments. These amendments included the striking of the word pro bono out of several to be replaced by “requirements” to make the terms of the bill more specific.