ADHP Legislation in Minnesota - Update

On April 17, 2008, the Minnesota State Senate overwhelming passed an amended Omnibus Higher Education Bill that contained a provision to put language in statute that creates the Oral Health Practitioner (OHP)—formerly the Advanced Dental Hygiene Practitioner (ADHP)—and convenes a workgroup to make recommendations and propose legislation to define the scope, supervision, and education of the provider. The amendment codifies that the OHP will be a licensed, educated provider who works under the supervision of a dentist via a collaborative management agreement. The amendment stipulates that OHPs must practice in underserved areas and cannot begin lawful practice prior to 2011.

The workgroup will design the scope of practice for the provider based on the following oral health services:

• primary diagnostic
• educational
• palliative
• therapeutic
• restorative (cavity preps, restoration of permanent teeth, temporary crowns placement of preformed crowns, pulpotomies on primary teeth, pulp capping)
• extractions of primary and permanent teeth
• placing and removing sutures
• prescriptive authority (anti-infective, non-narcotic pain management, and prevention)

The workgroup will be populated by the various stakeholders including representatives from Metropolitan State University, the University of Minnesota, MDHA, MDA, the state board of dentistry, Safety Net Coalition, and several other dentists representing various public health and special interest groups as well as two state agency representatives. In sum, the workgroup will be populated by 13 people—6 of which must be dentists, 2 of which must be dental hygienists, 2 of which will be state government employees, and the remaining 3 are at the discretion of the groups assigned to appoint them. The majority of dentists within the workgroup will be required to have specific public health experience. The workgroup is charged with completing its work by December 15, 2008, and draft legislation to enact specific recommendations will be required by January 15, 2009.

Since introduction of the ADHP legislation in February, it has under gone several changes necessary for the bill to remain active. One significant variation of the original ADHP bill was amendment to become a pilot project in which 15 mid-level practitioners would enter into practice in 2011 and an additional 15 in 2012. In addition, the name of the provider changed from ADHP to Oral Health Practitioner (OHP). Late last week, the sponsors of the bill met with the various stakeholders and devised a compromise proposal that would establish an Oral Health Practitioner in statute and convene a workgroup to make recommendations defining the scope, supervision, and education of the provider.

Senate passage of the OHP amendment is a big step, but it is only part of the lengthy process. The Minnesota House of Representatives must now consider companion legislation before the bill can move forward.

ADHA will continue to provide updates on the progress of the legislative effort. For more information on the OHP efforts in Minnesota contact the ADHA Governmental Affairs Department at (312) 440-8925 or by email at gov.affairs@adha.net. Additional information is also available on the Minnesota Dental Hygienists’ Association website: http://www.mndha.com.