Substitute Senate Bill 259 Summary

• Establishes teledentistry regulations allowing dentists to authorize dental hygienists and expanded function dental auxiliaries to provide services remotely using synchronous, real-time communication

• Expands physician assistant supervision flexibility by increasing the maximum number of physician assistants one supervising physician can oversee from three to five at one time

• Reduces experience requirements for physician assistants seeking prescriptive authority in certain circumstances, lowering prior practice periods from three years to two years in some cases

• Enacts comprehensive teledentistry framework including new permit requirements, patient consent procedures, and service coverage mandates for insurance providers and Medicaid

• Modifies dental hygienist and expanded function dental auxiliary supervision rules to allow more services when dentist is not physically present, with appropriate training and safety protocols