Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Health Care & Wellness Committee

HB 2226

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Description: Concerning dental practitioners.

Sponsors: Representatives Cody, Kenney, Darneille, Jinkins, McCoy, Moscoso, Green, Santos, Pettigrew, Hasegawa and Appleton.

Brief Summary of Bill

  • Creates new credentials for dental practitioners and dental hygiene practitioners.

Hearing Date: 1/19/12

Staff: Jim Morishima (786-7191).

Background:

Dental Personnel in Washington.

Washington currently has a variety of credentialed providers who provide assistance to licensed dentists. For example:

Mid-Level Dental Providers In Other States.

Other states have established mid-level dental providers who are authorized to provide a wide range of services. For example:

Summary of Bill:

Two new professions are created: dental practitioners and dental hygiene practitioners. Dental practitioners and dental hygiene practitioners must meet the following qualifications for licensure by the DQAC:

Dental practitioners and dental hygiene practitioners may perform the following services and procedures:

Dental practitioners and dental hygiene practitioners must practice pursuant to a written practice plan contract with a dentist. The contract must specify:

A collaborating dentist must make arrangements for the provision of advanced procedures and services needed by the patient or any treatment that exceeds the dental practitioner's or dental hygiene practitioner's scope of practice or capabilities. The collaborating dentist must also ensure that he or she, or another dentist, is available for consultations.

A dental practitioner may only provide services and procedures under the off-site supervision of the collaborating dentist, who must accept responsibility for all of the services and procedures provided by the dental practitioner. A collaborating dentist who knowingly allows a dental practitioner to perform services or procedures that are not authorized in the collaborative agreement, or any dental practitioner who performs such service or procedures, commits unprofessional conduct for purposes of the Uniform Disciplinary Act.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: This bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed, except for sections 1 through 17 relating to the creation of the new credential for dental practitioners and dental hygiene practitioners, which take effect on January 1, 2013