HEA 1116 Summary

• Creates new "access practice agreements" allowing dental hygienists with at least 2,000 documented clinical hours to provide preventive dental hygiene services directly to patients without prior dentist examination or authorization, effective July 1, 2018.

• Requires access practice agreements to be written, dated, signed by the dental hygienist, dentist, and facility representative, contain treatment protocols, and be reviewed every two years.

• Mandates the access practice dentist reside in the same or adjacent county and remain available for emergency communication and consultation, with a backup dentist designated for unavailability.

• Requires dental hygienists to maintain malpractice liability insurance, obtain signed patient consent forms before providing services, and provide patients with written information including contact details, emergency protocols, treatment list, and recommendations for comprehensive dental care from at least three dentists.

• Establishes record-keeping requirements using electronic charting, with the access practice dentist maintaining patient records and transferring them upon request or within one business day if employment is immediately terminated.