Bill > H249

This bill establishes a new level of dental professional called an "Advanced Dental Hygiene Practitioner" (ADHP) in Massachusetts, allowing licensed dental hygienists who meet specific educational and examination requirements to perform a wider range of oral health care services. To become an ADHP, a dental hygienist must graduate from an accredited program of 12-18 months, pass a competency-based clinical exam, gain supervised practice experience, and obtain professional liability insurance. ADHPs will operate under a written collaborative agreement with a licensed dentist or a government agency, ensuring communication and consultation for patient safety. This agreement will outline the specific services the ADHP is authorized to provide, which include preventive, diagnostic, therapeutic, and restorative procedures, as well as the ability to administer certain medications like analgesics, anti-inflammatories, and antibiotics, but not narcotic drugs. The bill also mandates that ADHPs be directly reimbursed by Medicaid and the Commonwealth Care health insurance program, and requires the Board of Registration in Dentistry to evaluate the impact of ADHPs on patient safety, cost-effectiveness, and access to dental care.