SB 1498 - Dental Therapy

• Establishes dental therapist licensure and practice in Florida, including examination requirements, continuing education (24-36 hours biennially), and a Council on Dental Therapy within the Board of Dentistry.

• Allows dental therapists to perform specified services under general supervision of a licensed dentist through a written collaborative management agreement, including evaluating radiographs, placing space maintainers, extracting certain teeth, administering local anesthesia, and prescribing select medications.

• Authorizes Medicaid reimbursement for dental services provided in mobile dental units operated by or contracted with health access settings serving underserved populations, including homeless shelters, schools, and WIC programs.

• Makes practicing dental therapy without an active license a third-degree felony and falsely representing oneself as a dental therapist a first-degree misdemeanor.

• Requires the Department of Health to submit progress reports to the Legislature by July 1, 2021, and three years after the first dental therapy license is issued, documenting implementation, access to care improvements, cost impacts, and quality/safety measures.