HB6710 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB093 18353 AMC 44060 b

93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2003 and 2004
HB6710

Introduced 02/09/04, by Ed Sullivan Jr. - William B. Black - Angelo Saviano

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

225 ILCS 25/18

from Ch. 111, par. 2318

Amends the Illinois Dental Practice Act. Changes the circumstances under which a dental hygienist may be employed or engaged. Provides the procedures and acts that a dental hygienist may perform under specified circumstances.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning dental hygienists.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Illinois Dental Practice Act is amended by changing Section 18 as follows:

(225 ILCS 25/18) (from Ch. 111, par. 2318)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2006)

Sec. 18. Acts constituting the practice of dental hygiene; . limitations.

(1) A dental hygienist may be employed or engaged only:

(a) Under the supervision of a dentist: (1) in the office of a dentist. ;

(2) By a federal, State, county or municipal agency or institution;

(3) By a public or private school; or

(4) By a public clinic operating under the direction of a hospital or federal, State, county, municipal or other public agency or institution.

When employed or engaged pursuant to this paragraph (a) a dental hygienist may perform the following procedures and acts:

(i) the operative procedure of dental hygiene, consisting of oral prophylactic procedures;

(ii) the exposure and processing of X-Ray films of the teeth and surrounding structures;

(iii) the application to the surfaces of the teeth or gums of chemical compounds designed to be desensitizing agents or effective agents in the prevention of dental caries or periodontal disease;

(iv) all services which may be performed by a dental assistant as specified by rule pursuant to Section 17;

(v) administration and monitoring of nitrous oxide upon successful completion of a training program approved by the Department;

(vi) administration of local anesthetics upon successful completion of a training program approved by the Department; and

(vii) such other procedures and acts as shall be prescribed by rule or regulation of the Department.

(b) Under the general supervision of a dentist (i) in the office of a dentist, (ii) in a long-term care facility licensed by the State of Illinois, (iii) in or a mental health or developmental disability facility operated by the Department of Human Services, (iv) in a public or private school, (v) in a hospital, (vi) in a prison, (vii) in a community health center or clinic, (viii) in a mobile unit, or (ix) in a home health setting if the patient is unable to travel to a dental office because of illness or infirmity. The dentist shall personally examine and diagnose the patient and determine which services are necessary to be performed, which shall be contained in a written order to the hygienist. Such order must be implemented within 120 days of its issuance, and An updated medical history and oral inspection must be performed by the hygienist immediately prior to beginning the procedures to ensure that the patient's health has not changed in any manner to warrant a reexamination by the dentist. The authorizing dentist shall be responsible for providing the dental examination in a reasonable and suitable time frame to ensure the patient's overall oral health.

Before a dental hygienist may be employed or engaged under the general supervision of a dentist, he or she must have been actively engaged in the practice of dental hygiene under the direct supervision of a dentist for a period of at least 12 months. A dental hygienist who provides services under the general supervision of a dentist must show proof of professional liability insurance.

(2) (c) Without the supervision of a dentist, a dental hygienist may perform dental health education functions and may record case histories and oral conditions observed or, in a public health setting, as defined jointly by the Department of Public Health and the Illinois State Board of Dentistry, provide fluoride treatments, cleanings, and sealants for Medicaid eligible children.

Before a dental hygienist may be employed or engaged without the supervision of a dentist, he or she must have been actively engaged in the practice of dental hygiene under the direct supervision of a dentist for a period of at least 24 months. A dental hygienist who provides services without the supervision of a dentist must show proof of professional liability insurance.

(3) The number of dental hygienists practicing in a dental office shall not exceed, at any one time, 4 times the number of dentists practicing in the office at the time.

(4) When employed or engaged pursuant to paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection (1) of this Section, a dental hygienist may perform the following procedures and acts:

(a) the operative procedure of dental hygiene, consisting of oral prophylactic procedures;

(b) the exposure and processing of X-Ray films of the teeth and surrounding structures;

(c) the application to the surfaces of the teeth or gums of chemical compounds designed to be desensitizing agents or effective agents in the prevention of dental caries or periodontal disease;

(d) all services which may be performed by a dental assistant as specified by rule pursuant to Section 17; and

(e) such other procedures and acts as shall be prescribed by rule or regulation of the Department.

(5) A dental hygienist may only perform the following procedures and acts upon successful completion of a training program approved by the Department under the supervision of a dentist:

(a) administration and monitoring of nitrous oxide; and

(b) administration of local anesthetics.

(Source: P.A. 93-113, eff. 1-1-04.)