Licensure of dental therapists; extending the time limit for emergency rule procedures; providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures; providing an exemption from rule-making procedures; and granting rule-making authority. (FE)

Under the bill, the board must grant a dental therapist license to an individual who satisfies certain criteria, including completion of an approved dental therapy program and passage of required examinations.

Dental therapists may provide dental therapy services only under the supervision of a dentist with whom the dental therapist has a collaborative management agreement that addresses various aspects of the dental therapist's practice. Dental therapists are, subject to the terms of a collaborative management agreement and what was covered in their dental therapy education program, limited to providing services, treatments, and procedures that are specified in the bill, as well as additional services, treatments, or procedures specified by the board by rule.

Dental therapists may initially provide dental therapy services only under the direct or indirect supervision of a qualifying dentist. Once a dental therapist licensed has provided dental therapy services for at least 2,000 hours, the dental therapist may provide services under the general supervision of a qualifying dentist. However, the level of supervision for a dental therapist may be further limited under the terms of a collaborative management agreement. Dental therapists must also, under the bill, either 1) limit their practice to federally defined dental shortage areas or 2) practice in settings where at least 50 percent of their patient base consists of certain specified populations. Dental therapists must complete 12 hours of continuing education each biennium.

The bill subjects dental therapists to, or covers dental therapists under, various other laws, including the health care records law, the volunteer health care provider program, the health care worker protection law, and the emergency volunteer health care practitioner law. The bill also provides for loan forgiveness for dental therapists under the health care provider loan assistance program.

Finally, the bill requires, effective when 50 individuals become licensed as a dental therapist in this state or five years after the bill is enacted, that, to the extent possible, one of the dental hygienist members on the board also be licensed as a dental therapist.