Wisconsin Governor Signs Five Bills That Impact Licensure and Workforce of Oral Health Practitioners

On Jan. 31, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D) signed five bills that will impact oral health practitioners and students in the state. This legislation was discussed in greater detail in a previous issue of the ADEA Advocate. A summary of each bill is below:

• SB 692 ratifies the dentist and dental hygienist compact, making Wisconsin the fourth state to join the compact.
• SB 689 provides for the licensure of dental therapists.
• SB 702 authorizes up to $20,000,000 in funding for technical college programs to expand the state’s oral health care workforce.
• SB 706 modifies a scholarship program so that only students enrolled in the Marquette University School of Dentistry are eligible.
• AB 62 allows an individual insured under a health benefit plan that includes coverage of dental services to assign reimbursement for dental and related services directly to a dental provider.

Indiana and Virginia House Each Pass Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact

On Jan. 31, the Indiana House overwhelming voted to pass the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact. That same day, members of the Virginia House unanimously voted in favor of the compact. The legislation will now be sent to each state’s respective Senate for consideration.

Once enacted by seven states, the compact will create a pathway to licensure portability for dentists and dental hygienists who are licensed in member states. Licensees who live in states that are compact members can apply for a “compact privilege” that will allow them to practice in another member state. Under the model compact written by The Council for State Governments, license holders will be granted the opportunity to apply for compact privilege if they do the following:

• Hold a license as a dentist or dental hygienist;
• Graduate from a Commission on Dental Accreditation-accredited program;
• Successfully complete a clinical assessment for licensure, with “clinical assessment” currently defined as an examination or process required for licensure as a dentist or dental hygienist, as applicable, that provides evidence of clinical competence in dentistry or dental hygiene;
• Have passed a National Board Examination of the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations or another examination accepted, by rule, as a requirement for licensure;
• Meet any jurisprudence requirements;
• Complete a criminal background check;
• Submit an application and pay applicable fees; and
• Comply with requirements to submit specified information for administrative purposes.

The compact has already been enacted in Iowa, Tennessee, Washington and Wisconsin. As of Feb.2, legislation to adopt the compact has been introduced in 12 additional states.

2024 ADEA/AADOCR/Friends of NIDCR Advocacy Day

On Thursday, April 11, ADEA, the American Association for Dental, Oral and Craniofacial Research (AADOCR) and the Friends of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (FNIDCR) will join forces for our 2024 Advocacy Day.

This event will be held in-person on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. Participants will receive a legislative briefing and advocacy training on Wednesday, April 10, that will feature speakers from Congress, Health Resources and Services Administration and NIDCR. The next day will be dedicated to group meetings on Capitol Hill with targeted congressional offices, including participants’ own elected officials.

The deadline to register for the 2024 Advocacy Day is Feb. 23. We hope to see you there!