State SealARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 

HB 2058: dental hygienists; scope of practice

PRIME SPONSOR: Representative Barto, LD 15

BILL STATUS: Transmitted to Governor

 

 

Overview

Expands scope of practice for dental hygienists and assistants. ☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note

History

A person is deemed to be practicing as a dental hygienist if the person does any acts or performs any operations included in the general practice of dental hygienists, dental hygiene and all related associated duties. A dental hygienist is currently allowed to practice under the general supervision of a licensed dentist. A dental hygienist may perform dental hygiene services in any of the following settings: 1) on a patient of record of a dentist within that dentist's office; 2) a health care facility, a long-term care facility, a public health agency or institution, a  public or private school or homebound setting on patients who have been examined by a dentist within the previous year, or as provided as in an affiliated practice relationship (A.R.S. § 32-1281).

A licensed dental hygienist may enter in to an affiliated practice relationship with a licensed dentist to deliver dental hygiene services, once certain eligibility requirements are met. The affiliated practice agreement shall be in writing and include identification of: 1) the practice settings in which services may be delivered; 2) services, procedures and standing orders the dental hygienist must follow, including circumstances in which a patient may be seen by the dental hygienist. Subject to the affiliated practice agreement, a dental hygienist may perform dental hygiene procedures, excluding diagnostic procedures required to be performed by a dentist. The licensed dentist's presence during an examination, diagnosis and treatment plan are not required, unless specified by the agreement (A.R.S. § 32-1289.01).

Under the general supervision of a dentist, a dental assistant may do the following: 1) expose radiographs for dental diagnostic purposes; 2) polish the natural and restored surfaces of the teeth (A.R.S. § 32-1291).

Provisions

1.       Allows a dental hygienist to practice in an inpatient hospital setting under the general supervision of a licensed physician, who is available for consultation, whether or not the physician is physically present at the hospital. (Sec. 1)

2.       Permits an affiliated practice agreement between a dental hygienist and a dentist to include protocols for supervising dental assistants. (Sec. 2)

3.       Allows a dental hygienist to supervise dental assistants. (Sec. 2)

4.       Allows a dental assistant under the direct supervision of an affiliated practice dental hygienist to expose radiographs for dental diagnostic purposes; and polish the natural and restored surfaces of the teeth. (Sec. 3)

5.       Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 1, 2)

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9.       Fifty-fourth Legislature                       HB 2058

10.   First Regular Session                            Version 4: Transmitted

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