PUBLIC HEALTH DENTAL HYGIENE

House Bill 4996

Sponsor:  Rep. Barb Vander Veen

Committee:  Health Policy

Complete to 6-27-05

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 4996 AS INTRODUCED 6-23-05

Under provisions of the Public Health Code, dental hygienists, under the supervision of a dentist, can provide dental hygiene services to patients who have not first been examined by a dentist as part of a program for "dentally underserved" patients conducted by a local, state, or federal grantee health agency.

House Bill 4996 would amend the code to revise the criteria for designation as a grantee health agency.  Currently, an agency can receive a two-year designation as a grantee health agency by applying to the Department of Community Health and meeting certain criteria.  The current requirements (with proposed changes in parentheses) are as follows:

·                    The agency is a public or nonprofit agency administering a program of dental care to a dentally underserved population.  (The bill would instead specify a public or nonprofit entity, or a school or nursing home that administers a program of dental care to a dentally underserved population.)

 

·                    It employs or contracts with at least one dentist and one dental hygienist.  (The bill would specify one dentist or one dental hygienist.) 

 

·                    It receives more than fifty percent of its total revenue from public or nonprofit organization sources.  (The bill would eliminate this provision.)

 

·                    It is not associated with a private dental practice or incorporated dental service provider whose only source of state or federal reimbursement was through Medicaid.  (This provision would be eliminated.)

 

·                    It submitted a program overview that described the population to be served, the method of providing service, and how the program would be directed and overseen.  (The bill would also require submission of the name and license number of the dentist and dental hygienist, if applicable, who were performing services under the program.

In addition, the bill would require that within 10 business days of approving an application and designating a grantee health agency, the Department of Community Health would have to notify the Board of Dentistry of the designation in writing or make the information electronically available.

"School" would mean a public or private elementary or secondary institution of learning for any grade from kindergarten to 12.  "Nursing home" would mean that term as defined in Section 20109 of the code.

MCL 333.16625

FISCAL IMPACT:

The bill would have minimal fiscal impact on state and local government.  The bill will revise the applicant requirements and may encourage increased applicant entities for processing by the Department of Community Health.

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   Susan Stutzky

                                                                                                  Fiscal Analyst:   Susan Frey

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.