An Act To Allow Independent Practice Dental Hygienists To Take X-rays

Emergency preamble. Whereas,  acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and

Whereas,  pursuant to Resolve 2011, chapters 67 and 153, independent practice dental hygienists in certain underserved areas of the State are allowed to expose and process radiographs; and

Whereas,  this authorization is set to expire on March 15, 2015; and

Whereas,  this legislation, which continues the authorization and expands its application to the entire State, needs to take effect prior to March 15, 2015 to avoid an interruption in the services; and

Whereas,  in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,

Sec. 1. 32 MRSA §1094-Q, sub-§1, ¶¶N and O,  as enacted by PL 2007, c. 620, Pt. B, §1, are amended to read:

Sec. 2. 32 MRSA §1094-Q, sub-§1, ¶P  is enacted to read:

Sec. 3. Rules. The Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, Board of Dental Examiners shall adopt rules to allow independent practice dental hygienists to expose and process radiographs pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 32, section 1094-Q, subsection 1, paragraph P. The rules must require that an independent practice dental hygienist have a written agreement with a licensed dentist providing that the dentist will be available to interpret all dental radiographs within 21 days from the date the radiograph is taken and that the dentist will sign a radiographic review and findings form. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.

SUMMARY

Under a pilot project that is scheduled to expire on March 15, 2015, independent practice dental hygienists are allowed to expose and process radiographs in areas of the State that have been designated by the United States Department of Health and Human Services as dental health professional shortage areas.

This bill continues the authority of these independent practice dental hygienists to expose and process radiographs indefinitely, under the same restrictions as imposed under the pilot project, except that the authorization applies in the entire State.