HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1951

TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2018

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to dental HYGIENISTS.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that Act 83, Session Laws of Hawaii 2017, authorized licensed dental hygienists to operate under the general supervision of a licensed dentist in specified circumstances.  The legislature recognizes that there has been some confusion in implementing some of the changes in the practice of dental hygiene authorized by Act 83.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to clarify the circumstances in which a licensed dental hygienist may operate under the general supervision of a licensed dentist.

     SECTION 2.  Section 447-1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (f) to read as follows:

     "(f)  No person shall practice dental hygiene, either gratuitously or for pay, or shall offer or attempt so to practice, or shall advertise or announce publicly or privately as being prepared or qualified so to practice without having a license as provided in this section.  The original or a copy of the certificate of licensure shall be prominently displayed at all times in the workplace where the dental hygienist is employed or practices.  A dental hygienist's pocket identification card shall be readily available for viewing upon request to ensure the license is current.  A licensed dental hygienist shall practice only under the supervision of a licensed dentist as provided in this chapter; provided that a licensed dental hygienist:

     (1)  May administer under the direct supervision of a licensed dentist only those categories of intra-oral block anesthesia listed in the course content submitted to the board pursuant to subsection (a);

     (2)  May practice under the general supervision of a licensed dentist and pursuant to an existing treatment plan with respect to patients of record who have had an examination by the licensed dentist; provided that [a]:

          (A)  A licensed dental hygienist shall not perform any irreversible procedure or administer any intra-oral block anesthesia under general supervision; [and]

          (B)  A licensed dental hygienist shall have completed one year of dental hygiene practice with a minimum experience of one thousand five hundred hours;

          (C)  A licensed dental hygienist shall have completed at least four hours of coursework on medical emergencies approved by the board of dental examiners and have obtained a certification of completion of that coursework;

          (D)  A licensed dental hygienist shall have on file in every office where the dental hygienist practices documentation of:

              (i)  Permissible practices for dental hygienists approved by the board of dental examiners;

             (ii)  Cardiopulmonary resuscitation certification;

            (iii)  Basic life support certification;

             (iv)  Hepatitis B immunization; and

              (v)  Employment by the supervising dentist or a contractual relationship with the supervising dentist;

          (E)  Each patient treated by a dental hygienist shall consent to treatment by the dental hygienist in the temporary absence of a licensed dentist and that documentation shall be retained with the patient's records; and

          (F)  The supervising licensed dentist shall:

              (i)  Have written emergency protocols in effect;

             (ii)  Sign and file with the board of dental examiners an attestation form approved by the board of dental examiners authorizing the general supervision of dental hygienists;

            (iii)  Conduct an examination of the patient and a review of the patient's medical history within the prior twelve-month period and document that examination and review in the patient's record;

             (iv)  Order in writing, treatment of the patient by a dental hygienist;

              (v)  Not permit more than three registered dental hygienists to be employed by the supervising licensed dentist in the absence of the supervising licensed dentist; and

             (vi)  Not be absent for more than fifteen consecutive days from the office where the dental hygienist practices; provided that after the fifteenth day, no dental hygienists at that office employed by the supervising licensed dentist shall practice within the employment of the supervising dentist; and

     (3)  May practice under the direct supervision of a licensed dentist as provided in this chapter."

     SECTION 3.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2018.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

 


 


 

Report Title:

Dental Hygienists

 

Description:

Clarifies the requirements for dental hygienists to practice under the general supervision of a dentist, including requiring that the dental hygienists complete 1 year of employment, complete 4 hours of medical emergency coursework, and retain various certifications and other documents at each office of employment.  Requires the supervising licensed dentist to have written emergency protocols and authorization for the general supervision of dental hygienists; to limit the number of generally supervised dental hygienists to 3; and not take a leave of more than 15 days from the office where a dental hygienist practices.

 

 

 

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