What's happening
This bill allows dental hygienists in New York to administer and monitor local block anesthesia, in addition to existing permissions.
Why it matters
Expands the scope of dental hygienists' practice. by allowing them to administer and monitor local block anesthesia, in addition to local infiltration anesthesia and nitrous oxide, under a dentist’s supervision—enabling hygienists to perform a wider range of procedures that may previously have required a dentist.
May improve patient access and efficiency. in dental care settings, particularly in areas with dentist shortages, since dental hygienists with the proper certification can now perform anesthesia-related tasks that could previously create bottlenecks or delays.
Requires additional training and certification. for dental hygienists to administer block anesthesia, with the State Education Department tasked to set standards that address safe administration, emergency response, and ensure public safety.
Maintains strong oversight and accountability. by continuing to require personal supervision by a dentist, and by establishing that failure to supervise is professional misconduct for dentists, helping to safeguard patient care while expanding provider roles.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Allow Hygienists Block Anesthesia
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to higher education
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Expand Dental Anesthesia Rights
In Assembly Committee · Higher Education · Sponsor Amy Paulin
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
7200
IN SENATE
January 3, 2018
Introduced by Sen. RITCHIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to local block anesthesia
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 6605-b of the education law, as added by chapter 437 of the laws of 2001, is amended to read as follows:
§ 6605-b. Dental hygiene restricted local infiltration and block anesthesia/nitrous oxide analgesia certificate. 1. A dental hygienist shall not administer or monitor nitrous oxide analgesia or local infiltration or block anesthesia in the practice of dental hygiene without a dental hygiene restricted local infiltration and block anesthesia/nitrous oxide analgesia certificate and except under the personal supervision of a dentist and in conjunction with the performance of dental hygiene procedures authorized by law and in accordance with regulations promulgated by the commissioner. Personal supervision, for purposes of this section, means that the supervising dentist remains in the dental office where the local infiltration or block anesthesia or nitrous oxide analgesia services are being performed, personally authorizes and prescribes the use of local infiltration or block anesthesia or nitrous oxide analgesia for the patient and, before dismissal of the patient, personally examines the condition of the patient after the use of local infiltration or block anesthesia or nitrous oxide analgesia is completed. It is professional misconduct for a dentist to fail to provide the supervision required by this section, and any dentist found guilty of such misconduct under the procedures prescribed in section sixty-five hundred ten of this [title] article shall be subject to the penalties prescribed in section sixty-five hundred eleven of this [title] article.
2. The commissioner shall promulgate regulations establishing standards and procedures for the issuance of such certificate. Such standards shall require completion of an educational program and/or course of training or experience sufficient to ensure that a dental hygienist is specifically trained in the administration and monitoring of nitrous
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11005-02-7
S. 7200 2
oxide analgesia and local infiltration or block anesthesia, the possible effects of such use, and in the recognition of and response to possible emergency situations.
3. The fee for a dental hygiene restricted local infiltration and block anesthesia/nitrous oxide analgesia certificate shall be twentyfive dollars and shall be paid on a triennial basis upon renewal of such certificate. A certificate may be suspended or revoked in the same manner as a license to practice dental hygiene.
§ 2. Subdivision 1 of section 6606 of the education law, as amended by chapter 239 of the laws of 2013, is amended to read as follows:
1. The practice of the profession of dental hygiene is defined as the performance of dental services which shall include removing calcareous deposits, accretions and stains from the exposed surfaces of the teeth which begin at the epithelial attachment and applying topical agents indicated for a complete dental prophylaxis, removing cement, placing or removing rubber dam, removing sutures, placing matrix band, providing patient education, applying topical medication, placing and exposing diagnostic dental X-ray films, performing topical fluoride applications and topical anesthetic applications, polishing teeth, taking medical history, charting caries, taking impressions for study casts, placing and removing temporary restorations, administering and monitoring nitrous oxide analgesia and administering and monitoring local infiltration and block anesthesia, subject to certification in accordance with section sixty-six hundred five-b of this article, and any other function in the definition of the practice of dentistry as may be delegated by a licensed dentist in accordance with regulations promulgated by the commissioner. The practice of dental hygiene may be conducted in the office of any licensed dentist or in any appropriately equipped school or public institution but must be done either under the supervision of a licensed dentist or, in the case of a registered dental hygienist working for a hospital as defined in article twenty-eight of the public health law, pursuant to a collaborative arrangement with a licensed and registered dentist who has a formal relationship with the same hospital in accordance with regulations promulgated by the department in consultation with the department of health. Such collaborative arrangement shall not obviate or supersede any law or regulation which requires identified services to be performed under the personal supervision of a dentist. When dental hygiene services are provided pursuant to a collaborative agreement, such dental hygienist shall instruct individuals to visit a licensed dentist for comprehensive examination or treatment.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, in relation to local block anesthesia
Purpose
To allow dental hygienists to administer block anesthesia in addition to the currently allowed local anesthesia and infiltration, in conformance with regulations of the commissioner
Summary of provisions
Section one of the bill amends section 6605-b of the education law to add the administration of block anesthesia to the list of duties dental hygienists may perform under the supervision of a licensed dentist. It also adds to the list of standards and procedures that the commissioner establishes for the issuance of training certificates, to ensure that the hygienist is specifically trained in the administration of block anesthesia. This section also provides that the department shall charge $25 triennially for the issuance of a block anesthesia certificate.
Section two of the bill amends section 6606 of the education law to add block anesthesia to the definition of practice of dental hygiene.
Section three provides for the effective date.
Justification
Under current law, dental hygienists are allowed to provide nitrous oxide analgesia and to administer and monitor local infiltration anes- thesia, however they are not permitted to provide block anesthesia. Block anesthesia is a form of anesthesia that intra-orally anesthetizes an entire nerve group. Many dental services require the use of block anesthesia and there are no public safety issues inherent to allowing a qualified, trained dental hygienist to administer it under the super- vision of a dentist. Under this legislation, dental hygienists who are interested in receiving certification in block anesthesia would be required to complete training as specified by the Commissioner.
Currently, 43 states allow dental hygienists to perform local infil- tration and all of those but two New York and South Carolina - also allow for block anesthesia. This legislation will allow dental offices to function more efficiently, and benefit patients by allowing dentists and dental hygienists to provide greater access to care.
Legislative history
This is a new bill.
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This bill will take place immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.