Legislative News
You can access Ohio State Legislative News on the ODHA web site http://www.odha.net/
Find your legislators by clinking on the following links:
Ohio Senator www.ohiosenate.gov/senate/index
Ohio House Representative www.ohiohouse.gov/
You can access Ohio State Legislative News on the ODHA web site http://www.odha.net/
Find your legislators by clinking on the following links:
Ohio Senator www.ohiosenate.gov/senate/index
Ohio House Representative www.ohiohouse.gov/
Attached please find the Legislative Committee Highlights from their February 19, 2021 meeting.
Are any of your patients using Smile Direct Club?
Do you want to learn more about the Ohio Dental Hygiene Loan Repayment Program?
Read about Jayne Klett’s proposal for fluoride varnish in children exposed to lead.
Read about HB 11-a licensed dental hygienist may be employed or contracted to educate pregnant women on the importance of prenatal and postnatal dental care.
Read the Highlights for the above information and more!
Be well and keep smiling,
Teresa Baumann RDH, BS
Kara Bayer LeFever RDH
Trustees Cincinnati Dental Hygienists’ Association
See the link below for the document with Highlights
Are any of your patients using Smile Direct Club?
Do you want to learn more about the Ohio Dental Hygiene Loan Repayment Program?
Read about Jayne Klett’s proposal for fluoride varnish in children exposed to lead.
Read about HB 11-a licensed dental hygienist may be employed or contracted to educate pregnant women on the importance of prenatal and postnatal dental care.
Read the Highlights for the above information and more!
Be well and keep smiling,
Teresa Baumann RDH, BS
Kara Bayer LeFever RDH
Trustees Cincinnati Dental Hygienists’ Association
See the link below for the document with Highlights
| lc_meeting_highlights_february_2021__1_.docx |
Latest News on Senate Bill 98
Tuesday February 6, 2018, a committee meeting was held at the State House regarding Senate Bill 98. Below is a link for great testimony regarding the Dental Therapy Bill. ODHA President Kimberly Moore, among others, represented the Dental Hygienists view on this bill.
www.ohiochannel.org/collections/ohio-senate-health-human-services-and-medicaid-committee?0
Tuesday February 6, 2018, a committee meeting was held at the State House regarding Senate Bill 98. Below is a link for great testimony regarding the Dental Therapy Bill. ODHA President Kimberly Moore, among others, represented the Dental Hygienists view on this bill.
www.ohiochannel.org/collections/ohio-senate-health-human-services-and-medicaid-committee?0
Here is a chart that shows the variance in the scope of practice of Dental Hygiene among the different states.
LATEST ON SENATE BILL 98 (April 27, 2017)
ODA (OHIO DENTAL ASSOCIATION) OPPOSES THIS LEGISLATION
They had their Lobby Day, yesterday, April 26th and met with many Senators and Representatives about this legislation. Also a letter was written by a dentist in Columbus to a Representative giving false information about the dental therapist bill. Please see the attached documents with this information. Please take time to call or write your senators and representatives to explain to them what the Dental Therapist will do. We have attached a "Support Letter" that you can download and send to your senator or representatives. See the attachment below named: "support_letter_for_sb_98.docx." We will get more information on our website as soon as it comes to us.
ODA (OHIO DENTAL ASSOCIATION) OPPOSES THIS LEGISLATION
They had their Lobby Day, yesterday, April 26th and met with many Senators and Representatives about this legislation. Also a letter was written by a dentist in Columbus to a Representative giving false information about the dental therapist bill. Please see the attached documents with this information. Please take time to call or write your senators and representatives to explain to them what the Dental Therapist will do. We have attached a "Support Letter" that you can download and send to your senator or representatives. See the attachment below named: "support_letter_for_sb_98.docx." We will get more information on our website as soon as it comes to us.
| 0417_-_oda_newsbytes_.pdf |
| 032417_-_letter_to_olbc_from_cad.doc |
| support_letter_for_sb_98.docx |
David Maywhoor, from Dental Access Now!, responded to the dentist's letter and gave her correct information about the dental therapist. That response is attached below so you can be informed as well. If you have time to call your Senator or Representative that will be helpful in the fight for this legislation. These are the 3 simple questions you need to ask:
1) Did (legislator XX) meet with dentists yesterday?
2) Did they speak about SB98?
3) What did they say about dental therapists?
1) Did (legislator XX) meet with dentists yesterday?
2) Did they speak about SB98?
3) What did they say about dental therapists?
| 042417_-_response_to_drsusan_wilson.pdf |
SENATE BILL 98 - DENTAL THERAPIST
Senators Peggy Lehner (R-Kettering) and Cecil Thomas (D-Cincinnati) have introduced Senate Bill 98 (SB 98) that would create a mid-level dental provider called a Dental Therapist and decrease restrictions on the scope of practice for licensed dental hygienists seeking to improve the health of Ohioans in all communities by increasing access to dental care. The bill is supported by the Ohio Dental Hygienists’ Assocation (ODHA).
The dental therapist is supervised by a dentist working under their authority to practice in dental health provider shortage areas or in dental practices that accept Medicaid benefits. Currently in the state there are 88 dental health professional shortage areas per the Ohio Department of Health. In 2011, there were 59 professional shortage areas in Ohio; showing the continued growth of provider shortages across the state.
The Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA), an arm of organized dentistry, that oversees dental and dental hygiene student’s education nationwide has developed accreditation standards for dental therapist training programs. CODA’s standard requires the education must be a post-secondary college level curriculum of 3 full-time academic years.
The W. K. Kellogg Foundation reviewed 1,100 studies of dental therapist programs including Alaska and 54 other countries. The conclusion: the quality of the technical care provided by dental therapists, within their scope
of practice was comparable to that of a dentist. Mid-level providers are highly skilled in routine and preventive care. The studies demonstrated dental therapists provide quality care to underserved populations. SB 98 allows a maximum 36 procedures (routine basic care) vs. the 400 procedures performed by dentists (basic and complex care).
“SB 98 will increase access to oral health care for Ohioans in communities of need, where dental practitioners are typically not choosing to establish a practice,” stated Ann Naber, ODHA Legislative Committee Chair. Senate Bill 98 received its first sponsor hearing today in the Senate Health, Human Services, and Medicaid Committee. Naber continued, “We look forward to a robust committee discussion to solve this growing problem in Ohio.”
Several identified barriers to access to dental care include:
* Lack of Medicaid or Medicaid coverage not accepted;
* Lack of dental insurance;
* Unaffordability of the cost of dental treatment;
* Long distance of travel or lack of transportation to dental office;
* Lack of dental providers in their community;
* Long wait time to get appointments.
Since 2011, Minnesota, Vermont, and Maine have passed legislation creating dental therapists and 13 states have introduced legislation to create this dental mid-level provider. To date, there have been ZERO patient standard of care complaints in Minnesota
Senators Peggy Lehner (R-Kettering) and Cecil Thomas (D-Cincinnati) have introduced Senate Bill 98 (SB 98) that would create a mid-level dental provider called a Dental Therapist and decrease restrictions on the scope of practice for licensed dental hygienists seeking to improve the health of Ohioans in all communities by increasing access to dental care. The bill is supported by the Ohio Dental Hygienists’ Assocation (ODHA).
The dental therapist is supervised by a dentist working under their authority to practice in dental health provider shortage areas or in dental practices that accept Medicaid benefits. Currently in the state there are 88 dental health professional shortage areas per the Ohio Department of Health. In 2011, there were 59 professional shortage areas in Ohio; showing the continued growth of provider shortages across the state.
The Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA), an arm of organized dentistry, that oversees dental and dental hygiene student’s education nationwide has developed accreditation standards for dental therapist training programs. CODA’s standard requires the education must be a post-secondary college level curriculum of 3 full-time academic years.
The W. K. Kellogg Foundation reviewed 1,100 studies of dental therapist programs including Alaska and 54 other countries. The conclusion: the quality of the technical care provided by dental therapists, within their scope
of practice was comparable to that of a dentist. Mid-level providers are highly skilled in routine and preventive care. The studies demonstrated dental therapists provide quality care to underserved populations. SB 98 allows a maximum 36 procedures (routine basic care) vs. the 400 procedures performed by dentists (basic and complex care).
“SB 98 will increase access to oral health care for Ohioans in communities of need, where dental practitioners are typically not choosing to establish a practice,” stated Ann Naber, ODHA Legislative Committee Chair. Senate Bill 98 received its first sponsor hearing today in the Senate Health, Human Services, and Medicaid Committee. Naber continued, “We look forward to a robust committee discussion to solve this growing problem in Ohio.”
Several identified barriers to access to dental care include:
* Lack of Medicaid or Medicaid coverage not accepted;
* Lack of dental insurance;
* Unaffordability of the cost of dental treatment;
* Long distance of travel or lack of transportation to dental office;
* Lack of dental providers in their community;
* Long wait time to get appointments.
Since 2011, Minnesota, Vermont, and Maine have passed legislation creating dental therapists and 13 states have introduced legislation to create this dental mid-level provider. To date, there have been ZERO patient standard of care complaints in Minnesota
HOUSE BILL 463
House Bill 463 passed the Ohio House of Representatives unanimously on Tuesday, June 3, 2014. and recently was passed by the Ohio Senate in December. All RDH's licensed to practice in Ohio should read this WIDELY encompassing bill, which will provide unlicensed dental team members, including x-ray machine operators, the freedom to provide certain services to dental patients when the dentist is not physically present in the dental office. Please educate yourself on this issue. Below are some talking points on HB463.
RDH's
* Aside from a dentist, the only degreed and licensed member of the dental team is a dental hygienist.
* Hygienists obtain a degree in dental hygiene with a curriculum that includes, among other things, anatomy, biology, microbiology, chemistry, oral pathology, and nutrition that is standardized across the 12 dental hygiene schools in Ohio.
*RDHs pass a national test based on competency and technical skill.
*Dental hygienists are licensed to assess oral health including decay, review of health history, record dental charting, expose and interpret x-rays, apply fluoride and sealants, educate patients about oral hygiene techniques, and administer nitrous oxide and local anesthesia, among other duties.
*RDHs are currently the only staff member to practice without the presence of a dentist in the office.
*ODHA is seeking to allow RDHs to work to the fullest extent of their training without an increase in the scope of practice.
CDAs
* Main concern for the bill is the significant relaxation of supervision for certified dental assistants.
* Dental assistant training is inconsistent, as they can be trained in dental assisting programs in high schools and some career colleges, but many are trained "chair side" by a dentist.
* A majority of dental assistants are not trained in a program that is accredited (there is only one accredited program in Ohio- Eastern Gateway Community College). Additionally, dental assistants are not required to register with the Dental Board after they obtain a certificate.
* The bill proposes to allow someone with minimal instruction and inconsistent training to work without the supervision of a dentist and provide services to patients without a prior dental exam.
* CDAs are not required to take continuing education courses.
EFDAs
* Expanded function dental auxiliaries are primarily tasked with placement of sealants and fillings, after a dentist has prepared the teeth.
*Under current law, the dentist must then return to check the EFDA's work before the patient can be dismissed.
* EFDAs are not trained to recognize decay before placing a sealant.
*EFDAs are taught over a 6-9 month period and dental assistants can become an EFDA after gaining 2 years experience as an assistant. EFDAs are required to register with the State Dental Board to maintain their certificate.
* The Bill seeks to expand the scope of practice and loosen the supervision oversight for an EFDA.
* EFDAs are not required to take continuing education courses.
Dental X-Ray Machine Operators
* House Bill 463 includes a provision to allow dental x-ray machine operators to perform their duties without the dentist present to a patient of record who has been seen by a dentist within the past year.
* These auxiliaries currently operate under direct supervision of a dentist and are required to only have 7 hours of instruction to receive their certificate.
* This change is a major shift to allow a minimally trained auxiliary to administer radiation through a radiologic procedure when a dentist is not present at the office.
* ODHA believes that this auxiliary must have adequate supervision in the performance of duties.
