Dental hygienist; remote supervision. (HB1474)
Introduced By
Del. Bobby Orrock (R-Thornburg) with support from co-patron Del. Kaye Kory (D-Falls Church)
Progress
✓ |
Introduced |
✓ |
Passed Committee |
✓ |
Passed House |
✓ |
Passed Senate |
✓ |
Signed by Governor |
☐ |
Became Law |
Description
Dental hygiene; remote supervision. Eliminates the requirement that a dental hygienist providing dental hygiene services under remote supervision be employed by the supervising dentist; clarifies continuing education requirements for dental hygienists practicing under remote supervision; eliminates the requirement for written permission to treat a patient from a dentist who has treated the patient in the previous 12 months; and allows a dental hygienist practicing under remote supervision to treat a patient who provides verbal confirmation that he does not have a dentist of record whom he is seeing regularly. The bill eliminates the requirement that a dental hygienist practicing under remote supervision consult with the supervising dentist prior to providing further dental hygiene services if the patient is medically compromised or has periodontal disease and allows a dental hygienist practicing under remote supervision to provide further dental hygiene services in accordance with a written practice protocol developed and provided by the supervising dentist, which shall consider, at minimum, the medical complexity of the patient and the presenting signs and symptoms of oral disease. The bill requires a supervising dentist who conducts the examination of the patient or refers the patient to another dentist for examination following the 90-day period during which a dental hygienist is permitted to provide dental hygiene services under remote supervision to develop a diagnosis and treatment plan for the patient. Read the Bill »
Outcome
History
Date | Action |
---|---|
12/13/2016 | Committee |
12/13/2016 | Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17100868D |
12/13/2016 | Referred to Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions |
01/06/2017 | Impact statement from VDH (HB1474) |
01/17/2017 | Reported from Health, Welfare and Institutions (22-Y 0-N) (see vote tally) |
01/18/2017 | Read first time |
01/19/2017 | Read second time and engrossed |
01/20/2017 | Read third time and passed House BLOCK VOTE (92-Y 0-N) |
01/20/2017 | VOTE: BLOCK VOTE PASSAGE (92-Y 0-N) (see vote tally) |
01/23/2017 | Constitutional reading dispensed |
01/23/2017 | Referred to Committee on Education and Health |
02/06/2017 | Assigned Education sub: Health Professions |
02/09/2017 | Reported from Education and Health with amendment (15-Y 0-N) (see vote tally) |
02/10/2017 | Constitutional reading dispensed (39-Y 0-N) (see vote tally) |
02/13/2017 | Read third time |
02/13/2017 | Reading of amendment waived |
02/13/2017 | Committee amendment agreed to |
02/13/2017 | Engrossed by Senate as amended |
02/13/2017 | Passed Senate with amendment (40-Y 0-N) (see vote tally) |
02/15/2017 | Placed on Calendar |
02/15/2017 | Senate amendment agreed to by House (97-Y 0-N) |
02/15/2017 | VOTE: ADOPTION (97-Y 0-N) (see vote tally) |
02/17/2017 | Enrolled |
02/17/2017 | Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1474ER) |
02/17/2017 | Impact statement from VDH (HB1474ER) |
02/17/2017 | Signed by Speaker |
02/20/2017 | Signed by President |
02/21/2017 | Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on 2/21/17 |
02/21/2017 | G Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, March 27, 2017 |
03/13/2017 | G Approved by Governor-Chapter 410 (effective 7/1/17) |
03/13/2017 | G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0410) |
Comments
This is important. Rural areas have a difficult time getting dentists to open a practice. Dentists are not needed to supervise hygienists, a position that requires substantially less training. Other states recognize this, and allow cleaning-only practices to operate without dentists. Virginia's requirement to have a dentist on-site prevents access to dental care for thousands of people, which is why 20% of adult Virginians do not have a single tooth in their head.
This is a good and necessary bill.