HB 401 -- Dental Services

Sponsor:  Treadway

This bill revises a provision pertaining to child immunizations
by allowing physicians to administer the appropriate fluoride
treatment to children when they receive their immunizations.

The bill also requires the Bureau of Child Hygiene in the
Department of Health to provide literature on the importance of
routine dental care for children.

The bill establishes a five-member Advisory Commission for
Dental Hygienists.  The duties of the commission include
recommending educational requirements for dental hygienist
registration; annually reviewing the practice act of dental
hygienists; providing recommendations to the Missouri Dental
Board concerning the practice, licensure, examination, and
discipline of dental hygienists; and assisting the board in
implementing the dental hygienist provisions of Chapter 332,
RSMo.

Members of the commission will be appointed by the Governor,
subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.  The
requirements, composition, lengths of service, selection of
commission members, and times of commission meetings are
stated.  Members of the initial commission are required to be
appointed by April 1, 2002.

Members of the commission will serve without compensation but
will be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses.  The
Missouri Dental Board is required to provide all necessary staff
and support services for the commission.

Registered and currently licensed dental hygienists who have
been practicing for at least 3 years and who practice in a
public health setting can without the supervision of a licensed
dentist provide fluoride treatments, teeth cleaning, and
sealants, if appropriate, to children who are eligible for
medical assistance under Chapter 208.

The Medicaid program is prohibited from reimbursing dental
hygienists and dentists who provide fluoride treatments, teeth
cleaning, and sealants and pediatricians who provide fluoride
treatments to eligible children at a rate less than 75% of the
usual and customary charge as established by the Division of
Medical Services.

The public health settings where a dental hygienist can practice
without the supervision of a licensed dentist will be
established jointly by the Department of Health and the Missouri
Dental Board by rule.  This provision will expire on August 28,
2006.

The bill allows the Department of Health to contract with the
Missouri Dental Board to establish a Donated Dental Services
Program in conjunction with the provisions of Section 332.323.

Licensed volunteer dentists will provide comprehensive dental
care for the needy, disabled, elderly, and medically compromised
persons.  Dental care can be provided to these persons in a
licensed volunteer dentist's office.  Eligible persons are
required to pay for dental laboratory costs.

The department is required to contract with the Missouri Dental
Board, its designee, or other qualified organizations to
administer the program.  The bill specifies the contractual
responsibilities of the organization administering the program.

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated September 13, 2001 at 2:01 pm