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For Immediate
Release
7/16/07
CONTACT:
Tracy Polovick
(717) 787-8524
Legislation to Ease
Barriers to Routine Dental Care Heads to Governor, Vance
Says
HARRISBURG – Legislation to improve access to routine,
preventive dental care has been sent to the Governor after
the House today approved Sen. Pat Vance's
(R-Cumberland/York) bill.
Senate Bill 455 allows public health dental hygiene
practitioners to practice without the supervision of a
dentist in specific institutions such as nursing homes,
schools, correctional facilities and federally qualified
health centers. The public health dental hygiene
practitioner would have to complete 3,600 hours of practice
under the supervision of a licensed dentist and have a
malpractice policy in addition to the standard dental
hygienist requirements.
"I have been vocal about expanding access to health care
services," Vance said. "With the shortage of dentists
willing to treat Medical Assistance patients, this
legislation would address a vital need, and I urge the
governor to sign it."
Current law requires professional dental services to be
delivered by or under the supervision of a dentist.
"Dentists have been very reluctant to treat children and
nursing home patients on medical assistance in particular,
so these Pennsylvanians have had no care whatsoever," Vance
said. "Dental hygienists now will be able to put sealant on
teeth and clean them. This is a wonderful improvement."
Vance's district includes all of Cumberland County and
Carroll, Fairview, Franklin, Monaghan, Warrington and
Washington townships and Dillsburg, Franklintown and
Wellsville boroughs in York County.
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