STAND. COM. REP. NO.2679

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2002

RE: S.B. No. 2075

S.D. 2

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 2075, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DENTAL HYGIENISTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to allow licensed dental hygienists to operate under the general or direct supervision of a licensed dentist in public health settings.

Testimony in support of this measure was received from the Hawaii Dental Hygienists' Association, Hawaii Primary Care Association, Hawaii Institute for Wellness in Dentistry, and thirty individuals. The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and Hawaii Dental Association, while supporting its intent, expressed concerns about the measure.

Hawaii's children suffer from high rates of dental caries and baby bottle tooth decay. The Dental Health Division of the Department of Health, which provides dental hygiene services in Hawaii's public schools, is only able to access one third of the schools every third year due to budgetary constraints. In addition, many adults lack proper dental care due to lack of insurance or the unavailability of dental care in rural areas.

In order to address the need for better access to dental care, this measure authorizes licensed dental hygienists to provide services under the direct or general supervision of a licensed dentist in public health settings, such as health clinics, schools, hospitals, nursing homes, day care centers, and mental institutions. Dental hygienists providing services in these settings would be prohibited from receiving direct reimbursement.

Upon careful consideration, your Committee has amended this measure to:

(1) Specify the services a dental hygienist may perform in a public health setting and require that other services may be performed only if authorized by a supervising licensed dentist and the dentist determines that equipment and facilities are appropriate and satisfactory;

(2) Clarify that dental hygienists may be employed in nonprofit health clinics; and

(3) Make technical nonsubstantive changes for purposes of consistency and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2075, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2075, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing,

____________________________

RON MENOR, Chair