In a declaration of its priorities, the Health and Human Services Task Force of the American Legislative Exchange Council adopted the ADA-crafted Dental Access Model Act at its meeting in Washington, D.C. on Dec. 4.
The model legislation will serve as a guide for legislators looking to address dental workforce issues. Sen. Majority Leader-elect Janae Shamp, R-Ariz., served as the public sector sponsor.
Chair of the ADA Council on Government Affairs, James Tauberg, D.M.D., along with ADA staff, presented the policy to the task force, which consists of three parts:
• Authorization of expanded function dental auxiliaries, based on the legislation enacted in Wisconsin.
• Authorization of oral preventive assistants, based on a pilot program created by the Missouri Dental Association, which took effect Dec. 1.
• Model teledentistry regulations, based on current Iowa law.
Expanded function dental auxiliaries are currently authorized in some form in 36 states and have been utilized in the military for many years. They are widely recognized as a way to safely increase the efficiency of dental teams.
Source: American Legislative Exchange Council adopts dental workforce model / ADA News