2015 -- H 5953 SUBSTITUTE A

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- DENTISTS AND DENTAL

HYGIENISTS

     Introduced By: Representatives Azzinaro, Carnevale, Craven, Kennedy, and McNamara

     Date Introduced: March 20, 2015

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

     (Health)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 5-31.1 of the General Laws entitled "Dentists and Dental

Hygienists" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     5-31.1-39. Public health hygienists. – (a) Any public health dental hygienist which for

purposes of this chapter means any practicing registered dental hygienist who may perform dental

hygiene procedures in a public health setting subject to conditions adopted by the Rhode Island

board of examiners in dentistry, may perform in a public health setting, without the immediate or

direct supervision or direction of a dentist, any procedure or provide any service that is within the

dental hygiene scope of practice that has been authorized and adopted by the Rhode Island board

of examiners in dentistry as a delegable procedure for a dental hygienist under general

supervision in a private practice setting.

     (b) Public health settings shall for purposes of this section, include, but are not limited to,

residences of the homebound, schools, nursing home and long-term care facilities, clinics,

hospitals, medical facilities, community health centers licensed or certified by the department of

health, mobile and portable dental health programs licensed or certified by the department of

health and operated by a local or state agency, head start programs and any other facilities or

programs deemed appropriate by the department of health.

     (c) Any public health hygienist shall enter into a written collaborative agreement with a

local or state government agency or institution or with a licensed dentist who states that he or she

shall be able to provide the appropriate level of communication and consultation with the dental

hygienist to ensure patient health and safety prior to performing any procedure or providing any

service under this section. The written collaborative agreement will follow the appropriate

guidelines as determined and established by the Rhode Island board of examiners in dentistry.

     (d) Any public health dental hygienist shall provide to the patient or to the patient's legal

guardian a consent form to be signed by the patient or legal guardian. The consent form shall be

consistent with current department of health policies that describes services to be rendered and

explains that services rendered are not a substitute for a dental examination by a dentist. The

consent form shall also inform the patient or legal guardian that the patient should obtain a dental

examination by a dentist within ninety (90) days after undergoing a procedure authorized

pursuant to this section. The patient or legal guardian shall also obtain written referral to a dentist

and an assessment of further dental needs.

     (e) The public health dental hygienist shall be directly reimbursed for services

administered in a public health setting by Medicaid or the state health care insurance program

except as required by federal Medicaid law, but shall not seek reimbursement from any other

insurance or third-party payor. A public health dental hygienist shall not operate independently of

a dentist, except for a dental hygienist working for a local or state government agency or

institution or practicing in a mobile or portable prevention program licensed or certified by the

department of health. In such cases the local or state government agency or institution or mobile

or portable prevention program licensed or certified by the department of health may seek

reimbursement from any other third-party payor.

     SECTION 2. Section 16-21-9 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-21 entitled "Health and

Safety of Pupils" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     16-21-9. Health examinations and dental screenings -- Reports -- Records. -- (a) Each

community as defined in § 16-7-16 shall provide for the appointment of a physician to make

examinations of the health of the school children, who shall report any deviation from the normal,

and for the preservation of records of the examinations of the children. Each community shall

further provide for dental screenings by a licensed dentist or licensed dental hygienist or a

licensed public health dental hygienist, with at least three (3) years of clinical experience, who

shall report any suspected deviation from the normal and for the preservation of records of the

screenings of the children. Each community shall notify the parents or custodians of children of

conditions requiring professional or skilled treatment. The state commissioner of elementary and

secondary education shall provide blank forms and record books that he or she may deem

necessary for the purposes of this section.

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      (b) Each community as defined in § 16-7-16 shall only contract with a licensed dentist,

and/or a licensed public health dental hygienist, for the provision of the dental screenings services

required by this section. Dental hygienists performing the dental screenings pursuant to the

provisions of this section shall do so under the general supervision of the dentist liable and

responsible under the contract with the community or within the collaborative agreement

guidelines between a licensed public health hygienist and licensed dentist.

      (c) Except in emergency circumstances, referral by a dentist, or dental hygienist, and/or

public health dental hygienist of children screened pursuant to the provisions of this section to a

dental practice by which the dentist or dental hygienist is employed and/or which the dentist owns

shall be strictly prohibited. In the event that a referral has been made in violation of this

provision, the community shall terminate its contract with the dentist. In the case of an egregious

violation of the referral prohibition contained in this section, that conduct shall be reported to the

board of dental examiners.

      (d) Each community shall provide to parents or custodians of children who require

professional or skilled treatment a list of both dental practices in the community which accept

patients insured by Medical Assistance and/or RIte Care and dental practices which provide

services on a sliding scale basis to uninsured individuals. The department of human services shall

provide each community with a list containing the addresses and telephone numbers of both

dental practices which accept patients insured by Medical Assistance and/or RIte Care and dental

practices which provide services on a sliding scale basis to uninsured individuals.

      (e) Dental screenings for children in kindergarten, third, and ninth grade shall only be

performed by a licensed dentist.

      (f) All dentists, or dental hygienists and/or public health dental hygienists, performing

dental screenings pursuant to the provisions of this section shall meet with the oral health director

of the department of health on a regular basis, as determined by the chief.

     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- DENTISTS AND DENTAL

HYGIENISTS

***

     This act would allow public health dental hygienists to perform certain dental hygiene

procedures in a public setting without the immediate supervision of a dentist. This act would also

allow licensed dental health hygienists in certain circumstances to provide dental screenings to

school children.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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