What's happening
This bill allows registered dental hygienists to work independently under a collaborative practice agreement with a licensed dentist.
Why it matters
Expands access to preventive dental care. by allowing dental hygienists to serve patients in non-traditional settings (like nursing homes, schools, correctional facilities, and homes of the homebound) without requiring a dentist to be physically present, addressing gaps for underserved populations.
Maintains safeguards for patient safety. through required collaborative agreements with dentists, annual reviews, specific protocols for vulnerable groups (such as medically compromised or elderly patients), and mandatory provision of written advisories to patients about the limits of hygienist services.
Sets professional standards and limits. by requiring hygienists to have at least three years and 4,500 hours of experience, plus specialized continuing education, before practicing independently, and by restricting each dentist to overseeing no more than six collaborative hygienists (with some exceptions in public health contexts).
Fosters innovation and flexibility in dental care delivery. by enabling contractual arrangements between hygienists and a range of organizations, potentially improving efficiency, reducing costs, and increasing the reach of oral health services across New York State.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Allow Hygienists More Independence
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to higher education
- 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.
Let Hygienists Work Independently
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
743
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 4, 2017
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 registered dental hygienists working without supervision but within a collaborative practice agreement with a licensed dentist
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 6607-a to read as follows:
§ 6607-a. Practice of collaborative practice dental hygiene and use of title "registered dental hygienist, collaborative practice" (RDH-CP). 1. The practice of the profession of dental hygiene, as defined under this article, may be performed in collaboration with a licensed dentist provided such services are performed in accordance with a written practice agreement and written practice protocols to be known as a collaborative practice agreement. Under a collaborative practice agreement, dental hygienists may perform all services which are designated in regulation without prior evaluation of a dentist or medical professional and may be performed without supervision in a collaborative practice setting.
2. (a) The collaborative practice agreement shall include consideration for medically compromised patients, specific medical conditions, and age- and procedure-specific practice protocols, including, but not limited to recommended intervals for the performance of dental hygiene services and a periodicity in which an examination by a dentist should occur.
(b) The collaborative agreement shall be:
(i) signed and maintained by the dentist, the dental hygienist, and the facility, program, or organization;
(ii) reviewed annually by the collaborating dentist and dental hygienist; and
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06283-01-7
S. 743 2
(iii) made available to the department and other interested parties upon request.
(c) Only one agreement between a collaborating dentist and registered dental hygienist, collaborative practice (RDH-CP) may be in force at a time.
3. Before performing any services authorized under this section, a dental hygienist must provide the patient with a written statement advising the patient that the dental hygiene services provided are not a substitute for a dental examination by a licensed dentist. If the dental hygienist makes any referrals to the patient for further dental procedures, the dental hygienist must fill out a referral form and provide a copy of the form to the collaborating dentist.
4. The collaborative practice dental hygienist may enter into a contractual arrangement with any New York state licensed and registered dentist, health care facility, program, and/or non-profit organization to perform dental hygiene services in the following settings: dental offices; longterm care facilities/skilled nursing facilities; public or private schools; public health agencies/federally qualified health centers; correctional facilities; public institutions/mental health facilities; and private settings in which homebound residents are unable to be relocated for necessary treatment.
5. A collaborating dentist shall have collaborative agreements with no more than six collaborative practice dental hygienists. The department may grant exceptions to these limitations for public health settings on a case-by-case basis.
6. A dental hygienist must make application to the New York state education department to practice as a registered dental hygienist, collaborative practice (RDH-CP) and pay a fee set by the department. As a condition of collaborative practice, the dental hygienist must have been engaged in practice for three years with a minimum of four thousand five hundred practice hours and must complete an eight hour continuing education program that includes instruction in medical emergency procedures, risk management, dental hygiene jurisprudence and professional ethics.
§ 2. 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 registered dental hygienists working without supervision but within a collaborative practice agreement with a licensed dentist
Purpose
To create the category of registered dental hygienist, collaborative practice, which authorizes dental hygienists to practice without supervision but within a collaborative practice agreement with a licensed dentist.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 adds a new section 6607-a to the education law which creates and defines the practice of collaborative practice dental hygiene. This section provides that the practice of dental hygiene may be performed in collaboration with a licensed dentist provided such services are performed in accordance with a written practice agreement and written practice protocols. This section also establishes the required content and procedures pertaining to the written collaborative practice agreement and collaborative practice arrangements. Lastly, this section requires dental hygienists to provide a patient with a written statement advising the patient that dental hygiene services are not a substitute for a dental examination by a licensed dentist, and to make referrals for further dental procedures as necessary.
Read the full memo (672 words)
Section 2 provides for the immediate enactment of this bill.
Justification
According to the 2005 Department of Health's Oral Health Plan for New York State, approximately 50% of children in New York experience tooth decay by the third grade and about 18% of 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, both in private-practice and public health settings. In fact, a 2010 report issued by the Pew Center on the States found that adding dental hygienists to a practice enables most private-practice dentists to serve more patients while increasing profitability and productivity. With the enactment of the federal health care reform law in 2010, which will extend dental insurance to an estimated 5.3 million more children nationally by 2014, patient demand for dental care will continue to increase. It is imperative that dental hygienists' skills and training are fully utilized freeing up dentists to treat more patients.
Medicaid Redesign Team (MRT) supports this action as one of its top five priorities of their twelve final recommendations. According to the 2011 published recommendations from MRT, this bill will allow fox the maximum utilization of the dental hygienists in New York State, in keeping with their education, training, and expertise as oral health prevention specialists. Collaborative Practice will serve to improve the oral health status of New Yorkers and promote the prevention of disease and oral health.
Collaborative practice is another way to increase access to dental hygiene care and disease prevention. Collaborative practice dental hygienists would be able to practice, pursuant to the terms of the collaborative practice agreement, without the supervision of the dentist. This makes it much easier for dental hygienists to practice in under-served communities, where there is a great need for prophylactic treatments and oral health counseling. Collaborative practice dental hygienists would also screen patients for disease and refer them to the collaborating dentist for dental examinations and other treatments.
This legislation creates more opportunities for New Yorkers to receive dental hygiene care, and decreases their risk of developing oral disease and tooth decay. Moreover this bill requires registered dental hygienists to apply for a new certification with the New York State Education Department for Collaborative Practice (RDH-CP). As a prerequisite, three years experience and continuing education requirements are provided for.
Legislative history
2015-2016: S3308 - Referred to higher education/ A.1959- Referred to higher education 2013-2014: S.1944 - Referred to higher education / A.5096 - Referred to higher education 2011-2012: S.7353 - Referred to higher education / A.111-A - Referred to higher education
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.