Report Title:

Dental Hygienists; Public Health Settings

 

Description:

Allows licensed dental hygienists to practice under a dentist's direct or general supervision in a public health setting; specifies services that may be performed; prohibits direct reimbursement of licensed dental hygienists; requires completion of four-hour courses in pharmacology and medical emergencies. Effective July 1, 2050. (SB2075 HD1)

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2075

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2002

S.D. 2

STATE OF HAWAII

H.D. 1


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to dental hygienists.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. Section 447-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§447-3 Employment of and practice by dental hygienists. (a) Any licensed dentist, legally incorporated eleemosynary dental dispensary or infirmary, private school, [or] welfare center, nursing home, adult day care center or assisted living facility, mental institution, nonprofit health clinic, or the State or any county, may employ licensed dental hygienists.

(b) Clinical dental hygiene may be practiced by a licensed dental hygienist. The practice of clinical dental hygiene is defined as the removal of hard and soft deposits and stains from the portion of the crown and root surfaces to the depth of the gingival sulcus, polishing natural and restored surfaces of teeth, the application of preventive chemical agents to the coronal surfaces of teeth, which chemical agents have been approved by the board of dental examiners, and the use of mouth washes [as are] approved by the board, but shall not include the performing of any repair work or the preparation thereof, or any other operation on the teeth or tissues of the mouth; provided that nothing [herein] in this subsection shall prohibit a dental hygienist from using or applying topically any chemical agent which has been approved in writing by the department of health for any of the purposes set forth in part V of chapter 321, and other procedures delegated by a dentist in accordance with the rules of the board of dental examiners.

In addition, a licensed dental hygienist may administer intra-oral infiltration local anesthesia and intra-oral block anesthesia under the direct supervision of a dentist after being certified by the board, and for those categories of intra-oral infiltration local anesthesia and intra-oral block anesthesia for which the licensed dental hygienist has been certified through a course of study meeting the requirements of this chapter.

(c) [The] A licensed dental hygienist may operate in the office of any licensed dentist, or legally incorporated eleemosynary dental dispensary or infirmary, private school, [or] welfare center, nursing home, adult day care center or assisted living facility, mental institution, nonprofit health clinic, or in any building owned or occupied by the State or any county, but only under the aforesaid employment and under the direct or general supervision of a licensed dentist; provided that in the private practice of dentistry, the hygienist shall be under the direct supervision of a licensed dentist. No dental hygienist may establish or operate any separate care facility which exclusively renders dental hygiene services.

(d) A licensed dental hygienist may operate under the general or direct supervision of any licensed dentist providing dental services in a public health setting. A licensed dental hygienist employed in a public health setting may perform dental education and fluoride applications; provided that services provided in a nursing home shall be limited to those provided to American Society of Anesthesiologists category I patients. All permissible duties shall be prescreened and authorized by a supervising licensed dentist, subject to the dentist's determination that the equipment and facilities are appropriate and satisfactory to carry out the recommended treatment plan. No direct reimbursements shall be provided to licensed dental hygienists.

(e) Notwithstanding the continuing education requirements for license renewal, a dental hygienist must complete a four-hour course in pharmacology and a four-hour course in medical emergencies.

(f) As used in this section, "public health setting" includes a legally incorporated eleemosynary dental dispensary or infirmary, private school, welfare center, nursing home, adult day care center or assisted living facility, mental institution, nonprofit health clinic, or a building owned or occupied by the State or any county."

SECTION 2. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.