HB 961 Summary: Dental Therapy

• Authorizes and establishes licensing requirements for dental therapists in Florida, including education standards, examination requirements, and continuing education (24-36 hours biennially).

• Limits dental therapist practice to specified settings serving underserved populations: health access settings, community health centers, nursing facilities, military/veterans facilities, schools, correctional facilities, and areas designated as dental health professional shortage areas.

• Requires dental therapists to work under general supervision of a dentist with a written collaborative management agreement that specifies scope of practice, supervision requirements, and protocols for medication administration and emergency management.

• Authorizes Medicaid reimbursement for dental services provided by dental therapists in mobile dental units operated by or contracted with health access settings and similar programs serving low-income or uninsured populations.

• Requires the Department of Health to report progress on dental therapy implementation and its effects on patient access, preventive services use, costs, and quality of care by July 1, 2024, with a final report 3 years after first license is issued.