SB181: Bill Text

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2021 - 2022 LEGISLATURE

2021 Senate BILL 181

March 9, 2021 - Introduced by Senators Felzkowski, Bernier, Darling, Kooyenga, Pfaff, Ringhand, Stafsholt, Stroebel and L. Taylor, cosponsored by Representatives Plumer, Armstrong, Baldeh, Brooks, Callahan, Dittrich, Duchow, Gundrum, Krug, Magnafici, Moses, Mursau, L. Myers, Neylon, Ramthun, J. Rodriguez, Rozar, Schraa, Skowronski, Snyder, Spiros, Tauchen and Zimmerman. Referred to Committee on Insurance, Licensing and Forestry.

SB181,2,2 An Act to amend 15.405 (6) (b), 36.61 (1) (b), 36.61 (3) (a), 36.61 (5) (b) 1., 36.61 (8) (c) 3., 146.81 (1) (c), 146.89 (1) (r) 1., 146.89 (1) (r) 5., 146.89 (3) (b) 8., 146.89 (3m) (intro.), 146.997 (1) (d) 3., 155.01 (7), 252.14 (1) (ar) 3., 257.01 (5) (a), 257.01 (5) (b), 447.02 (1) (a), 447.02 (1) (b), 447.02 (2) (a), 447.02 (3) (a) (intro.), 447.02 (3) (a) 2., 447.02 (3) (b), 447.02 (5), 447.03 (3) (c), 447.05, 447.06 (1), 447.06 (2) (a) 3., 447.06 (2) (b), 447.06 (2) (c) (intro.), 447.06 (2) (c) 2. (intro.), 447.063, 447.065, 447.07 (1), 447.07 (3) (intro.), 447.07 (3) (e) to (h), 447.40 (intro.), 447.40 (6), 448.03 (2) (a), 448.21 (1) (a), 450.03 (1) (e), 450.10 (3) (a) 4., 462.02 (2) (d), 462.04, 463.10 (5), 463.12 (5), 632.87 (4), 895.48 (1m) (a) (intro.), 895.48 (1m) (a) 2. and 941.315 (5); and to create 36.61 (1) (ak), 440.03 (13) (b) 20m., 440.08 (2) (a) 25m., 447.01 (6g), 447.01 (6r), 447.02 (1) (g), 447.02 (3) (a) 3., 447.02 (6), 447.03 (1m), 447.03 (3) (am), 447.04 (1m), 447.057, 447.06 (1m) and 447.06 (3) of the statutes; relating to: licensure of dental therapists; extending the time limit for emergency rule procedures; providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures; providing an exemption from rule-making procedures; and granting rule-making authority.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill provides for the licensure of dental therapists, who are health care practitioners who may engage in the limited practice of dentistry.

Under current law, dentists and dental hygienists are licensed by the Dentistry Examining Board to practice dentistry and dental hygiene, respectively. This bill provides for the licensure of a third type of dental practitioner, dental therapists. Under the bill, the board must grant a dental therapist license to an individual who satisfies certain criteria, including completion of an approved dental therapy program and passage of required examinations.

Dental therapists may provide dental therapy services only under the supervision of a dentist with whom the dental therapist has a collaborative management agreement that addresses various aspects of the dental therapist's practice. Dental therapists are, subject to the terms of a collaborative management agreement and what was covered in their dental therapy education program, limited to providing services, treatments, and procedures that are specified in the bill, as well as additional services, treatments, or procedures specified by the board by rule. Dental therapists may initially provide dental therapy services only under the direct or indirect supervision of a qualifying dentist. Once a dental therapist licensed has provided dental therapy services for at least 2,000 hours, the dental therapist may provide services under the general supervision of a qualifying dentist. However, the level of supervision for a dental therapist may be further limited under the terms of a collaborative management agreement. Dental therapists must also, under the bill, either 1) limit their practice to federally defined dental shortage areas or 2) practice in settings where at least 50 percent of their patient base consists of certain specified populations. Dental therapists must complete 12 hours of continuing education each biennium.

The bill subjects dental therapists to, or covers dental therapists under, various other laws, including the health care records law, the volunteer health care provider program, the health care worker protection law, and the emergency volunteer health care practitioner law. The bill also provides for loan forgiveness for dental therapists under the health care provider loan assistance program.

Finally, the bill requires, effective when 50 individuals become licensed as a dental therapist in this state or five years after the bill is enacted, that, to the extent possible, one of the dental hygienist members on the board also be licensed as a dental therapist.

For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

SB181,1 Section 1. 15.405 (6) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB181,3,7 15.405 (6) (b) Three dental hygienists who are licensed under ch. 447. The governor shall, to the extent possible, appoint members under this paragraph so that at least one of the members under this paragraph is an individual who is also a dental therapist licensed under ch. 447. Notwithstanding s. 15.08 (1m) (a), the dental hygienist members under this paragraph may participate in the preparation and grading of licensing examinations for dental hygienists.

SB181,2 Section 2 . 36.61 (1) (ak) of the statutes is created to read:

SB181,3,10 36.61 (1) (ak) “Dental therapist” means an individual licensed under s. 447.04 (1m).

SB181,3 Section 3 . 36.61 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB181,3,13 36.61 (1) (b) “Health care provider" means a dental therapist, dental hygienist, physician assistant, nurse-midwife, or nurse practitioner.

SB181,4 Section 4 . 36.61 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB181,3,21 36.61 (3) (a) The board shall enter into a written agreement with the health care provider. In the agreement, the health care provider shall agree to practice at least 32 clinic hours per week for 3 years in one or more eligible practice areas in this state or in a rural area, except that a health care provider in the expanded loan assistance program under sub. (8) who is not a dental therapist or dental hygienist may only agree to practice at a public or private nonprofit entity in a health professional shortage area.

SB181,5 Section 5. 36.61 (5) (b) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB181,4,7 36.61 (5) (b) 1. The degree to which there is an extremely high need for medical care in the eligible practice area, health professional shortage area, or rural area in which an eligible applicant who is not a dental therapist or dental hygienist desires to practice and the degree to which there is an extremely high need for dental care in the dental health shortage area or rural area in which an eligible applicant who is a dental therapist or dental hygienist desires to practice.

SB181,6 Section 6 . 36.61 (8) (c) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB181,4,12 36.61 (8) (c) 3. Practice at a public or private nonprofit entity in a health professional shortage area, if the health care provider is not a dental therapist or dental hygienist, or in a dental health shortage area, if the health care provider is a dental therapist or dental hygienist.

SB181,7 Section 7 . 146.81 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB181,4,14 146.81 (1) (c) A dentist or dental therapist licensed under ch. 447.

SB181,8 Section 8 . 146.89 (1) (r) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB181,4,20 146.89 (1) (r) 1. Licensed as a physician under ch. 448, a dentist, dental therapist, or dental hygienist under ch. 447, a registered nurse, practical nurse, or nurse-midwife under ch. 441, an optometrist under ch. 449, a physician assistant under ch. 448, a pharmacist under ch. 450, a chiropractor under ch. 446, a podiatrist under subch. IV of ch. 448, or a physical therapist under subch. III of ch. 448.

SB181,9 Section 9 . 146.89 (1) (r) 5. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB181,5,2 146.89 (1) (r) 5. An individual who holds a valid, unexpired license, certification, or registration issued by another state or territory that authorizes or qualifies the individual to perform acts that are substantially the same as those acts that an individual who is described in subds. 1. to 4., except a dentist , dental therapist, or dental hygienist, is licensed or certified to perform and who performs acts that are within the scope of that license, certification, or registration.

SB181,10 Section 10 . 146.89 (3) (b) 8. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB181,5,8 146.89 (3) (b) 8. Dental services, including tooth extractions and other procedures done under local anesthesia only and any necessary suturing related to the extractions, performed by a dentist or dental therapist who is a volunteer health provider; and dental hygiene services, performed by a dental hygienist who is a volunteer health provider.

SB181,11 Section 11 . 146.89 (3m) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB181,5,13 146.89 (3m) (intro.) A volunteer health care provider who is a dentist or dental therapist may provide dental services or a volunteer health care provider who is a dental hygienist may provide dental hygiene services, to persons who are recipients of Medical Assistance, if all of the following apply:

SB181,12 Section 12 . 146.997 (1) (d) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB181,5,15 146.997 (1) (d) 3. A dentist or dental therapist licensed under ch. 447.

SB181,13 Section 13. 155.01 (7) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB181,6,3 155.01 (7) “Health care provider" means a nurse licensed or permitted under ch. 441, a chiropractor licensed under ch. 446, a dentist or dental therapist licensed under ch. 447, a physician, physician assistant, perfusionist, podiatrist, physical therapist, physical therapist assistant, occupational therapist, or occupational therapy assistant licensed under ch. 448, a person practicing Christian Science treatment, an optometrist licensed under ch. 449, a psychologist licensed under ch. 455, a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant who holds a compact privilege under subch. IX of ch. 448, a partnership thereof, a corporation or limited liability company thereof that provides health care services, a cooperative health care association organized under s. 185.981 that directly provides services through salaried employees in its own facility, or a home health agency, as defined in s. 50.49 (1) (a).

SB181,14 Section 14 . 252.14 (1) (ar) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB181,6,5 252.14 (1) (ar) 3. A dentist or dental therapist licensed under ch. 447.

SB181,15 Section 15 . 257.01 (5) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB181,6,12 257.01 (5) (a) An individual who is licensed as a physician, a physician assistant, or a podiatrist under ch. 448, licensed as a registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, or nurse-midwife under ch. 441, licensed as a dentist or dental therapist under ch. 447, licensed as a pharmacist under ch. 450, licensed as a veterinarian or certified as a veterinary technician under ch. 89, or certified as a respiratory care practitioner under ch. 448.

SB181,16 Section 16 . 257.01 (5) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB181,6,21 257.01 (5) (b) An individual who was at any time within the previous 10 years, but is not currently, licensed as a physician, a physician assistant, or a podiatrist under ch. 448, licensed as a registered nurse, licensed practical nurse or nurse-midwife, under ch. 441, licensed as a dentist or dental therapist under ch. 447, licensed as a pharmacist under ch. 450, licensed as a veterinarian or certified as a veterinary technician under ch. 89, or certified as a respiratory care practitioner under ch. 448, if the individual's license or certification was never revoked, limited, suspended, or denied renewal.

SB181,17 Section 17 . 440.03 (13) (b) 20m. of the statutes is created to read:

SB181,6,23 440.03 (13) (b) 20m. Dental therapist.

SB181,18 Section 18 . 440.08 (2) (a) 25m. of the statutes is created to read:

SB181,6,25 440.08 (2) (a) 25m. Dental therapist: October 1 of each odd-numbered year.

SB181,19 Section 19. 447.01 (6g) of the statutes is created to read:

SB181,7,3 447.01 (6g) “Dental therapist” means an individual who practices dental therapy.

SB181,20 Section 20 . 447.01 (6r) of the statutes is created to read:

SB181,7,6 447.01 (6r) “Dental therapy” means the limited practice of dentistry, consisting of the services, treatments, and procedures specified in s. 447.06 (3) (b).

SB181,21 Section 21 . 447.02 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB181,7,11 447.02 (1) (a) Governing the reexamination of an applicant who fails an examination specified in s. 447.04 (1) (a) 5., (1m) (e), or (2) (a) 5. The rules may specify additional educational requirements for those applicants and may specify the number of times an applicant may be examined.

SB181,22 Section 22 . 447.02 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB181,7,14 447.02 (1) (b) Governing the standards and conditions for the use of radiation and ionizing equipment in the practice of dentistry or dental therapy.

SB181,23 Section 23 . 447.02 (1) (g) of the statutes is created to read:

SB181,7,18 447.02 (1) (g) Specifying services, treatments, or procedures, in addition to those specified under s. 447.06 (3) (b) 1. to 27., that are included within the practice of dental therapy.

SB181,24 Section 24 . 447.02 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB181,7,21 447.02 (2) (a) The conditions for supervision and the degree of supervision required under ss. 447.03 (3) (a), (am), (b) and (d) 2. and 447.065.

SB181,25 Section 25 . 447.02 (3) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read: