An Act to improve oral health for all Massachusetts residents
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Progress
Where this bill stands in the legislative process.
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Overview
This bill aims to improve oral health access for all residents of Massachusetts by expanding the scope of practice for dental therapists. It establishes procedures for licensing dental therapists, outlines collaborative management agreements between therapists and dentists, and modifies existing laws to facilitate the integration of dental therapists into the state’s healthcare system. The bill also focuses on increasing preventive dental services, particularly for underserved populations.
Key provisions
- Establishes a process for licensing dental therapists in Massachusetts, including requirements for education, clinical examinations, and professional liability insurance.
- Creates collaborative management agreements between dental therapists and supervising dentists to ensure patient safety and appropriate care.
- Modifies existing laws to allow dental therapists to administer analgesics, anti-inflammatories, and antibiotics under specific conditions.
- Increases the number of preventive dental services available, particularly to underserved and vulnerable populations.
- Updates regulations regarding community water fluoridation programs.
- Expands the definition of ‘health care provider’ to include dental therapists.
- Requires community health workers to receive oral health education.
- Mandates a 5-year evaluation of the impact of dental therapists on patient care and costs.
Who is affected
Bill text
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Text extraction is in progress. View the official source.
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
14 on record
Primary sponsor
Joint Committee on Public Health
Cosponsors
Bradley H. Jones Jr.
Arguments
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