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By Mr. Pignatelli of Lenox, petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2221) of William Smitty Pignatelli and others relative to further regulating dental hygentists. Public Health. |
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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AS REVISED
PETITION OF:
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By Mr. Pignatelli of Lenox, petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2221) of William Smitty Pignatelli and others relative to further regulating dental hygentists. Public Health. |
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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AS REVISED
PETITION OF:
Christine E. Canavan
William C. Galvin
Robert Correia
Viriato Manuel deMacedo
Frank I. Smizik
William G. Greene, Jr.
Denise Provost
Kay Khan
Susan C. Fargo
Denis E. Guyer
Martha M. Walz
Stephen R. Canessa
Mary E. Grant
James R. Miceli
Thomas P. Kennedy
David B. Sullivan
Karyn E. Polito
Daniel E. Bosley
Anne M. Gobi
Mary S. Rogeness
Geraldo Alicea
Cleon H. Turner
Richard J. Ross
Carl M. Sciortino, Jr.
Walter F. Timilty
Timothy J. Toomey, Jr.
Barbara A. L'Italien
Cheryl A. Coakley-Rivera
Dianne Wilkerson
Douglas W. Petersen
Colleen M. Garry
Michael F. Rush
Paul Kujawski
Benjamin B. Downing
Gale D. Candaras
Ellen Story
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In the Year Two Thousand and Seven.
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An Act authorizing dental hygentists to practice in public health settings. |
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
SECTION 1. Chapter 112, Section 43A of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting at the end of the section the following:
“Public health dental hygienist”, a registered dental hygienist with at least three years experience who is practicing in public health settings pursuant to the provisions in Section 51.
SECTION 2. Chapter 112, Section 51 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after the second paragraph the following:
A registered dental hygienist practicing as a public health dental hygienist may perform, in public health settings, acts or services on teeth and related structures that are prophylactic, preventive, and educational in nature, including but not limited to: dental hygiene screenings; oral health education; dental charting; complete prophylaxis; pit and fissure sealants; fluoride varnishes and rinses; topical anesthetics; x-rays; radiographs; and root planning. Public health settings shall include, but not be limited to, the following: residences of the homebound; schools; nursing homes and long term care facilities; public and private clinics; medical facilities; mobile dental health units; Head Start programs; and other facilities deemed appropriate by the board. Public Health dental hygienists shall be required to enter into a collaborative agreement with a licensed dentist which states that the dentist will be able to provide the appropriate level of contact, communication, and consultation with the dental hygienist as well as guidelines that dental hygienists administering services in a public health setting must follow to ensure patient health and safety. Dental hygienists operating in a public health setting must refer any patients with possible oral abnormalities to a dentist for a comprehensive examination, diagnosis, and treatment plan. Public health dental hygienists shall be directly reimbursed by Medicaid as well as any insurance or third party claims for services administered under a public health setting. The designation of public health dental hygienist does not authorize a dental hygienist to operate independent of a dentist. Dental hygienists operating in public health or school sealant programs may apply sealants and fluoride varnishes and rinses without the supervision or instruction of a dentist.
SECTION 3. Chapter 112 of the General Laws is hereby amending by inserting Section 51:
No dentist pursuant to the provisions in Section 45 shall refuse a patient solely on the basis that services for said patient are reimbursed by Medicaid. Dentists who deny dental services to MassHealth patients solely because of MassHealth status shall be subject to disciplinary action by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Dentistry.