WSR 18-04-078 PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH (Dental Quality Assurance Commission) [Filed February 2, 2018, 2:19 p.m.] Subject of Possible Rule Making: WAC 246-817-550 Acts that may be performed by licensed dental hygienists under general supervision, the dental quality assurance commission (commission) is considering adding certain tasks from WAC 246-817-520 to the list of allowable tasks that a dentist can delegate to dental hygienists under general supervision. Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The commission considered a rule request in July 2017 to allow dental hygienists to perform certain tasks listed in WAC 246-817-520 under general supervision. WAC 246-817-520 details what tasks dental assistants can perform under close supervision. Dental hygienists can also perform the same duties under close supervision. Close supervision requires the dentist to be physically present in the treatment facility during the performance of a delegated task while general supervision does not. The commission determined some tasks listed in WAC 246-817-520 may be allowed for dental hygienists under the general supervision of a dentist. Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None. Process for Developing New Rule: Collaborative rule-making. Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Jennifer Santiago, P.O. Box 47852, Olympia, WA 98504, phone 360-236-4893, fax 360-236-2901, TTY 360-833-6388 or 711, email jennifer.santiago@doh.wa.gov, web site www.doh.wa.gov. Additional comments: Interested stakeholders may sign up for the dental commission or dental hygiene interested parties list GovDelivery at https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/WADOH/subscriber/new. All rule-making notices will be emailed to the dental commission and dental hygiene interested parties list, GovDelivery, Washington State Dental Association, and Washington Dental Hygienists' Association. February 2, 2018 Trina Crawford Executive Director |