STAND. COM. REP. 3277

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2004

RE: H.B. No. 2093

H.D. 1

S.D. 2

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 2093, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DENTAL PROFESSIONAL LICENSING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to authorize the Board of Dental Examiners to issue a community service license for eligible dentists or dental hygienists who work at non-profit health centers that service low-income and uninsured communities within the State.

Specifically, this measure:

(1) Permits the board to issue a community service license to practice dentistry or dental hygiene to individuals who are employed by a federally qualified health center, Native Hawaiian health systems center, or post-secondary dental auxiliary training program accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation;

(2) Enumerates the specific requirements for community service licenses for eligible dentistry or dental hygiene candidates, including the process for the renewal and revocation of licenses;

(3) Authorizes a dentist or dental hygienist on active duty in the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Public Health Service, or Veterans Administration, who is practicing dentistry or dental hygiene at a federally qualified health center or Native Hawaiian health systems center, to be eligible for a community service license; and

(4) Clarifies that an individual shall be eligible to take an examination before the board upon submission of proper documentation and credentials, including but not limited to:

(A) A certificate or diploma from a college accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation; or

(B) A certificate or other evidence the board deems satisfactory to indicate passage of parts I and II of the National Board Dental Examination.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Department of Health, the Board of Dental Examiners, the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, the Hawaii Primary Care Association, the Advocates for Consumer Rights, the Hawaii Dental Hygienists' Association, and the Hawaii Medical Service Association.

Your Committee finds that there is limited access to dental care for low-income or uninsured individuals within the State. Locally, more than 270,000 residents are without dental insurance, while 80,000 MedQuest insured adults are also without dental benefits. Although additional centers offering dental clinics are expected to open in the near future, there are currently only a small number of non-profit federally qualified health centers in Hawaii which offer dental clinic services. Consequently, children in Hawaii suffer from triple the number of incidences of baby bottle tooth decay, double the number of dental caries, as well as more than double the number of decayed and filled teeth.

Your Committee believes that the failure to provide for basic and preventive dental care can result in more serious health problems in the future, which will in turn translate into increased costs to the State. Your Committee further finds that the number of dental professionals to staff dental clinics at non-profit health centers are deficient for our current needs. The current law precludes the utilization of otherwise qualified out-of-state professionals who do not possess proper licensure within the State. The establishment of a community service license will facilitate the recruitment and retention of eligible dentists and dental hygienists from other states who may be willing to provide services to low-income or uninsured communities in our islands. Your Committee determines that the need to properly provide for the health and well-being of our residents necessitates the creation of this exception to normal licensing requirements.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity 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 H.B. No. 2093, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2093, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

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

____________________________

RON MENOR, Chair