NH legislators mull midlevel provider bill

The New Hampshire Legislature is considering a measure to authorize a pilot program for the expansion of midlevel oral health services to underserved areas of the state.

SB 284, introduced December 21, 2011, would add a new oral health professional and expand the scope of practice of a public health dental hygienist.

As introduced, the bill states, in part:

I. None of the following procedures may be assigned to a dental hygienist or assistant or to any other person not licensed to practice dentistry:

1. Diagnosis, treatment planning and prescriptions (including prescriptions for drugs and medicaments or authorization for restorative, prosthodontic, or orthodontic appliances).
2. Surgical procedures on hard or soft tissues within the oral cavity; or any other interoral procedure that contributes to, or results in, an irremediable alteration of the oral anatomy.

The bill would also allow public health dental hygienists -- under the general supervision of a dentist and in accordance with a written practice agreement -- to provide certain services for which they have been trained and that have been authorized by a supervising dentist.