Bills in Several States Could Make Changes for Allied Oral Health Professionals

Legislation is moving in several states that will have an impact on allied oral health professionals.

In Arizona, the House of Representatives has passed a pair of bills that will alter procedure-specific training requirements for dental hygienists and dental assistants in the state. Both bills, which are below, will be sent to the state’s Senate for consideration:

• AZ HB2072 allows a dental hygienist to administer local anesthetics under the direct supervision of a dentist if the hygienist completes an examination in local anesthetics given by any state or regional testing agency in the United States, rather than by the Western Regional Examining Board. Additionally, the bill reduces the amount of time a dentist, dental hygienist, dental therapist and denturist has to submit a completed renewal application to reinstate their expired license or certificate from two years to one year.
• AZ HB2639 provides dental assistants with new options to meet training requirements to qualify to expose radiographs for dental diagnostic purposes or polish the natural and restored surfaces of the teeth. Under current law, a dental assistant must pass an examination provided by the Arizona State Board of Dental Examiners (Board) before being permitted to perform either procedure. If the bill passes, a dental assistant can also meet training requirements by completing a course that teaches the procedures if it is Board recognized and qualifies as continuing dental education.

In South Dakota, Gov. Kristi Noem (R) signed a bill that alters eligibility for dental hygienists to practice under the collaborative supervision of a dentist. Specifically, the bill removes a requirement for dental hygienists to have been actively engaged in the practice of clinical dental hygiene in two of the previous three years in order to provide preventive and therapeutic services under the collaborative supervision of a dentist.

In Virginia, legislation passed the House of Delegates that will extend from 90 days to 180 days the period during which a dental hygienist practicing under remote supervision may continue to treat a patient before the supervising dentist is required to conduct an examination or the dental hygienist refer the patient to another dentist. This bill will be sent to the state’s Senate for consideration.

A bill in West Virginia passed the Senate that will allow dental hygienists to provide tobacco cessation education to patients to improve overall dental health. This bill will be sent to the state’s House for consideration.

West Virginia House Passes Bill to Remove Dentures From Medicaid Spending Cap

The West Virginia House of Delegates passed a bill that, if enacted, will exempt the purchase of dentures from the state’s $1,000 yearly limit on coverage for adult patients enrolled in the state’s Medicaid program. The legislation passed by a nearly unanimous vote. Six members were not present, and no members voted against the measure. The bill will now be sent to the state’s Senate for consideration.

Florida Sues Biden Administration Over Requirement to Keep Kids Enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP

On Feb. 1, the state of Florida filed a lawsuit against the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), challenging a requirement for states to keep children continuously enrolled in Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Programs (CHIP) for 12 months. Florida requires some of the families of children enrolled in the state’s CHIP program to pay monthly premiums that range from $15 to $20 per month, and would like to have the ability to remove children from coverage for failure to pay the premiums. The state’s lawsuit claims CMS’s guidance misconstrues the law by “equating eligibility for CHIP benefits with enrollment in a CHIP plan and subsequent insurance coverage.”