Relates to registered dental hygienists

BILL NUMBER:S4604

Title of bill

An act to amend the education law, in relation to registered dental hygienists

Purpose

To authorize dental hygienists to practice without supervision but within a collaborative practice agreement with a licensed dentist.

Summary of provisions

Section one mandates that a dental hygienist shall not administer or monitor nitrous oxide analgesia or local infiltration anesthesia in the practice of dental hygiene without a proper certificate and except under the personal supervision of a dentist.

Section two defines the practice of dental hygiene. This section also provides that a registered dental hygienist working for a hospital may practice pursuant to a collaborative practice agreement with a licensed dentist.

Section three defines the practice of certified dental assisting as the provision of supportive services to a dentist in his/her performance of dental services. This section provides that these supportive services may be performed by a registered dental hygienist who practices in collaboration with a licensed dentist.

Section four extends the requirement to be certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and maintain current certification to registered dental hygienists who practice in collaboration with a licensed dentist.

Section five provides that this act shall take effect April 1, 2014.

Justification

According to the Department of Health's Oral Health Plan for New York State (2005), approximately 50 percent of children in New York State experience tooth decay by the third grade and about 18 percent of adult New Yorkers, 65 years and older, have lost all their teeth. Because of current disparities that exist in oral health, these numbers are even higher among low-income and minority populations. Increasing access to dental hygiene services will help to ensure that all New Yorkers are able to receive quality oral healthcare.

Dental hygienists fulfill a critical role in the provision of dental care. A 2010 report by the Pew Center on the States found that adding dental hygienists to a practice enables most dentists to serve more patients while increasing profitability and productivity. With the enactment of the federal health care reform law in 2010, which extended dental insurance to an estimated 5.3 million more children nationally by 2014, patient demand for dental care will continue to increase. Thus, it is imperative that dental hygienists' skills and training are fully utilized, thereby freeing up dentists to treat more patients.

The Medicaid Redesign Team (MRT) supports collaborative practice for dental hygienists as a way to reduce the cost of dental care.

Collaborative practice will improve the oral health status of New Yorkers by promoting oral healthcare and the prevention of disease.

Dental hygienists working in a collaborative practice would be able to practice in a hospital or health clinic, pursuant to the terms of the collaborative practice agreement, without the supervision of the dentist. Collaborative practice dental hygienists would screen patients for disease and refer them to the collaborating dentist for dental examinations and other treatments. This creates more opportunities for New Yorkers to receive dental hygiene care, and decreases their risk of developing oral disease and tooth decay.

Legislative history

This is a new bill.

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

This act shall take effect April 1, 2014.