HB2547 - 551R

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Section 32-1281, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE32-1281. Practicing as dental hygienist; supervision requirements; definitions

A. A person is deemed to be practicing as a dental hygienist if the person does any of the acts or performs any of the operations included in the general practice of dental hygienists, dental hygiene and all related and associated duties.

B. A licensed dental hygienist may perform the following:

1. Prophylaxis.

2. Scaling.

3. Closed subgingival curettage.

4. Root planing.

5. Administering local anesthetics and nitrous oxide.

6. Inspecting the oral cavity and surrounding structures for the purposes of gathering clinical data to facilitate a diagnosis.

7. Periodontal screening or assessment.

8. Recording clinical findings.

9. Compiling case histories.

10. Exposing and processing dental radiographs.

11. All functions authorized and deemed appropriate for dental assistants.

12. Except as provided in paragraph 13 of this subsection, those restorative functions permissible for an expanded function dental assistant if qualified pursuant to section 32-1291.01.

13. Placing interim therapeutic restorations after successfully completing a course at an institution accredited by the commission on dental accreditation of the American dental association.

C. The board by rule shall prescribe the circumstances under which a licensed dental hygienist may:

1. Apply preventive and therapeutic agents, used in relation to dental hygiene procedures, to the hard and soft tissues.

2. Use emerging scientific technology and prescribe the necessary training, experience and supervision to operate newly developed scientific technology. A dentist who supervises a dental hygienist whose duties include the use of emerging scientific technology must have training on the use of using the emerging technology that is equal to or greater than the training the dental hygienist is required to obtain.

3. Perform other procedures not specifically authorized by this section.

D. Except as provided in subsections E, F and I of this section, a dental hygienist shall practice under the general supervision of a dentist who is licensed pursuant to this chapter.

E. A dental hygienist may practice under the general supervision of a physician who is licensed pursuant to chapter 13 or 17 of this title in an inpatient hospital setting.

F. A dental hygienist may perform the following procedures on meeting the following criteria and under the following conditions:

1. Administering local anesthetics under the direct supervision of a dentist who is licensed pursuant to this chapter after:

(a) The dental hygienist successfully completes a course in the administration of administering local anesthetics that includes didactic and clinical components in both block and infiltration techniques offered by a dental or dental hygiene program accredited by the commission on dental accreditation of the American dental association.

(b) The dental hygienist successfully completes an examination in local anesthesia given by the western regional examining board or a written and clinical examination of another state or regional examination that is substantially equivalent to the requirements of this state, as determined by the board.

(c) The board issues to the dental hygienist a local anesthesia certificate on receipt of proof that the requirements of subdivisions (a) and (b) of this paragraph have been met.

2. Administering local anesthetics under general supervision to a patient of record if all of the following are true:

(a) The dental hygienist holds a local anesthesia certificate issued by the board.

(b) The patient is at least eighteen years of age.

(c) The patient has been examined by a dentist who is licensed pursuant to this chapter within the previous twelve months.

(d) There has been no change in the patient's medical history since the last examination. If there has been a change in the patient's medical history within that time, the dental hygienist must consult with the dentist before administering local anesthetics.

(e) The supervising dentist who performed the examination has approved the patient for the administration of being administered local anesthetics by the dental hygienist under general supervision and has documented this approval in the patient's record.

3. Administering nitrous oxide analgesia under the direct supervision of a dentist who is licensed pursuant to this chapter after:

(a) The dental hygienist successfully completes a course in administering nitrous oxide analgesia that includes didactic and clinical components offered by a dental or dental hygiene program accredited by the commission on dental accreditation of the American dental association.

(b) The board issues to the dental hygienist a nitrous oxide analgesia certificate on receipt of proof that the requirements of subdivision (a) of this paragraph have been met.

G. The board may issue local anesthesia and nitrous oxide analgesia certificates to a licensed dental hygienist on receipt of evidence satisfactory to the board that the dental hygienist holds a valid certificate or credential in good standing in the respective procedure issued by a licensing board of another jurisdiction of the United States that maintains a standard of certification that is substantially equivalent to that of this state as determined by the board.

H. A dental hygienist may perform dental hygiene procedures in the following settings:

1. On a patient of record of a dentist within that dentist's office.

2. Except as prescribed in section 32-1289.01, in a health care facility, long-term care facility, public health agency or institution, public or private school or homebound setting on patients who have been examined by a dentist within the previous year.

3. In an inpatient hospital setting pursuant to subsection E of this section.

I. A dental hygienist may provide dental hygiene services under an affiliated practice relationship with a dentist as prescribed in section 32-1289.01.

J. For the purposes of this article:

1. "Assessment" means a limited, clinical inspection that is performed to identify possible signs of oral or systemic disease, malformation or injury and the potential need for referral for diagnosis and treatment, and may include collecting clinical information to facilitate an examination, diagnosis and treatment plan by a dentist.

2. "Direct supervision" means that the dentist is present in the office while the dental hygienist is treating a patient and is available for consultation regarding procedures that the dentist authorizes and for which the dentist is responsible.

3. "General supervision" means:

(a) That the dentist is available for consultation, whether or not the dentist is in the dentist's office, over procedures that the dentist has authorized and for which the dentist remains responsible.

(b) With respect to an inpatient hospital setting, that a physician who is licensed pursuant to chapter 13 or 17 of this title is available for consultation, whether or not the physician is physically present at the hospital.

4. "Interim therapeutic restoration" means a provisional restoration that is placed to stabilize a primary or permanent tooth and that consists of removing soft material from the tooth using only hand instrumentation, without using rotary instrumentation, and subsequently placing an adhesive restorative material.

4. 5. "Screening" means determining an individual's need to be seen by a dentist for diagnosis and does not include an examination, diagnosis or treatment planning. END_STATUTE

Sec. 2. Section 32-1285, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE32-1285. Applicants for licensure; examination requirements

An applicant for licensure shall have passed all of the following:

1. The national dental hygiene board examination.

2. A clinical examination that is completed within five years preceding filing the application and that is either of the following:

(a) The western regional examining board examination.

(b) An examination administered by another state or state-approved testing agency that is substantially equivalent to the requirements of this state, as determined by the board.

3. The Arizona dental jurisprudence examination. END_STATUTE

Sec. 3. Section 32-1289.01, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE32-1289.01. Dental hygienists; affiliated practice relationships; rules; definition

A. A dentist who holds an active license pursuant to this chapter and a dental hygienist who holds an active license pursuant to this article may enter into an affiliated practice relationship to deliver dental hygiene services.

B. A dental hygienist shall satisfy all of the following to be eligible to enter into an affiliated practice relationship with a dentist pursuant to this section to deliver dental hygiene services in an affiliated practice relationship:

1. Hold an active license in good standing pursuant to this article.

2. Enter into an affiliated practice relationship with a dentist who holds an active license pursuant to this chapter.

3. Be actively engaged in dental hygiene practice for at least five hundred hours in each of the two years immediately preceding the affiliated practice relationship.

C. An affiliated practice agreement between a dental hygienist and a dentist shall be in writing and:

1. Shall include identify at least the following:

(a) An identification of The affiliated practice settings in which the dental hygienist may deliver services pursuant to the affiliated practice relationship.

(b) An identification of The services to be provided and any procedures and standing orders the dental hygienist must follow. The standing orders shall include the circumstances in which a patient may be seen by the dental hygienist.

(d) Circumstances under which the affiliated practice dental hygienist must consult with the affiliated practice dentist before initiating further treatment on patients who have not been seen by a dentist within twelve months after the initial treatment by the affiliated practice dental hygienist.

2. May include protocols for supervising dental assistants.

D. The following requirements apply to all dental hygiene services provided through an affiliated practice relationship:

1. Patients who have been assessed by the affiliated practice dental hygienist shall be directed to the affiliated practice dentist for diagnosis, treatment or planning that is outside the dental hygienist's scope of practice, and the affiliated practice dentist may make any necessary referrals to other dentists.

2. The affiliated practice dental hygienist shall consult with the affiliated practice dentist if the proposed treatment is outside the scope of the agreement.

3. The affiliated practice dental hygienist shall consult with the affiliated practice dentist before initiating further treatment on patients who have not been seen by a dentist within twelve months of the initial treatment by the dental hygienist.

4. 3. The affiliated practice dental hygienist shall consult with the affiliated practice dentist before initiating treatment on patients presenting with a complex medical history or medication regimen.

5. 4. The patient shall be informed in writing that the dental hygienist providing the care is a licensed dental hygienist and that the care does not take the place of a diagnosis or treatment plan by a dentist.

E. A contract for dental hygiene services with licensees who have entered into an affiliated practice relationship pursuant to this section may be entered into only by:

1. A health care organization or facility.

2. A long-term care facility.

3. A public health agency or institution.

4. A public or private school authority.

5. A government-sponsored program.

6. A private nonprofit or charitable organization.

7. A social service organization or program.

F. An affiliated practice dental hygienist may not provide dental hygiene services in a setting that is not listed in subsection E of this section.

G. Each dentist in an affiliated practice relationship shall:

1. Be available to provide an appropriate level of contact, communication and consultation with the affiliated practice dental hygienist during the business hours of the affiliated practice dental hygienist.

2. Adopt standing orders applicable to dental hygiene procedures that may be performed and populations that may be treated by the affiliated practice dental hygienist under the terms of the applicable affiliated practice agreement and to be followed by the affiliated practice dental hygienist in each affiliated practice setting in which the affiliated practice dental hygienist performs dental hygiene services under the affiliated practice relationship.

3. Adopt procedures to provide timely referral of patients referred by the affiliated practice dental hygienist to a licensed dentist for examination and treatment planning. If the examination and treatment planning is to be provided by the dentist, that treatment shall be scheduled in an appropriate time frame. The affiliated practice dentist or the dentist to whom the patient is referred shall be geographically available to see the patient.

4. Not permit the provision of dental hygiene services by more than three affiliated practice dental hygienists at any one time.

H. Each affiliated practice dental hygienist, when practicing under an affiliated practice relationship:

1. May perform only those duties within the terms of the affiliated practice relationship.

2. Shall maintain an appropriate level of contact, communication and consultation with the affiliated practice dentist.

3. Is responsible and liable for all services rendered by the affiliated practice dental hygienist under the affiliated practice relationship.

I. The affiliated practice dental hygienist and the affiliated practice dentist shall notify the board of the beginning of the affiliated practice relationship and provide the board with a copy of the agreement and any amendments to the agreement within thirty days after the effective date of the agreement or amendment. The affiliated practice dental hygienist and the affiliated practice dentist shall also notify the board within thirty days after the termination date of the affiliated practice relationship if this date is different than the agreement termination date.

J. Subject to the terms of the written affiliated practice agreement entered into between a dentist and a dental hygienist, a dental hygienist may:

1. Perform all dental hygiene procedures authorized by this chapter, except for performing any diagnostic procedures that are required to be performed by a dentist and administering nitrous oxide. The dentist's presence and an examination, diagnosis and treatment plan are not required unless specified by the affiliated practice agreement. Procedures identified in section 32-1281, subsection B, paragraphs 4 and 5 are subject to the conditions prescribed in section 32-1281, subsection F.

2. Supervise dental assistants, including dental assistants who are certified to perform functions pursuant to section 32-1291.

K. The board shall adopt rules regarding participation in affiliated practice relationships by dentists and dental hygienists that specify the following:

1. Additional continuing education requirements that must be satisfied by a dental hygienist.

2. Additional standards and conditions that may apply to affiliated practice relationships.

3. Compliance with the dental practice act and rules adopted by the board.

L. For the purposes of this section, "affiliated practice relationship" means the delivery of dental hygiene services, pursuant to an agreement, by a dental hygienist who is licensed pursuant to this article and who refers the patient to a dentist who is licensed pursuant to this chapter for any necessary further diagnosis, treatment and restorative care. END_STATUTE