| Legislative News |
| The Bill for "General Supervision For The Private Dental Office" Was Signed By Governor Bob Erhlich and became effective October 1, 2003. |
| What is General Supervision? |
A private dental office must be owned and controlled by a licensed dentist. Both the dentist and the dental hygienist must hold active licenses to practice in Maryland. A written agreement between the supervising dentist and the dental hygienist practicing under general supervision clearly stating the terms and conditions under which the dental hygienist may practice. The supervising dentist must examine and evaluate the patient within 7 months of treatment. The prescribed treatment to be provided by the hygienist must be written in the patient's record. The treatment authorized must be rendered within seven months from the date the patient was examined by the dentist. Upon expiration of a prescription or prescribed treatment, the dentist must examine and reevaluate the patient before writing a new prescription for treatment. Prior to an appointment with the hygienist working under general supervision, the patient must be informed and consent to hygiene services. Written emergency procedures must be in place. A designated dentist must be available for consultation with the dental hygienist in the absence of the supervising dentist. The number of unsupervised clinical hours worked by a dental hygienist must be less than 60% of the dental hygienist's total hours in any given calendar week. A supervising dentist may not employ more than two dental hygienists to work under general supervision at any given time. |
Supervision of a Registered Dental Hygienist by a dentist where the dentist may or may not be present when the Registered Dental Hygienist performs the dental hygiene procedure. GENERAL SUPERVISION IS NOT INDEPENDENT OR UNSUPERVISED PRACTICE. General Supervision would not allow Registered Dental Hygienists to treat any patient independently of a dentist. UNDER GENERAL SUPERVISION, REGISTERED DENTAL HYGIENISTS COULD NOT OWN A PRACTICE. In Maryland, ONLY a dentist can own a dental practice. BENEFITS TO THE CONSUMER Registered Dental Hygienists would be able to treat patients under the general supervision of a dentist, in such areas as: Schools Head Start Programs Homebound Nursing Facilities Private Offices Volunteer Dental Clinics Long Term Care Facilities Underserved Populations in Remote Areas Prisons Hospitals THIS CAN LEAD TO SIGNIFICANT HEALTHCARE COST SAVINGS, NOT JUST FOR THOSE BEING SERVED BUT FOR TAXPAYERS AS WELL. ACCESS TO CARE |
| WHAT DOES THE LAW STATE? |