HB15-1309 Summary

• Authorizes dental hygienists in Colorado to place interim therapeutic restorations (ITR), which are temporary tooth repairs using hand instrumentation and glass ionomer material, under dentist supervision.

• Requires dental hygienists to complete a post-secondary course meeting uniform standards developed by a newly established advisory committee before obtaining a permit to perform ITR procedures.

• Permits dentists to supervise ITR placement through telehealth (including store-and-forward transfer) and limits each dentist to supervising no more than five dental hygienists using telehealth supervision.

• Ensures Medicaid and Children's Basic Health Plan reimbursement for ITR-related services provided via telehealth effective July 1, 2016, subject to federal authorization.

• Appropriates $37,940 to the Department of Regulatory Agencies and $11,648 to the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing for 2015-16 fiscal year implementation; permits expire September 1, 2021, subject to legislative review.