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H. 4977
STATUS INFORMATION
General Bill
Sponsors: Reps. Mitchell, Cobb-Hunter, Mack and Howard
Document Path: l:\council\bills\agm\18880ab16.docx
Introduced in the House on February 24, 2016
Currently residing in the House Committee on Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs
Summary: Dental hygiene
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
Date Body Action Description with journal page number
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2/24/2016 House Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 7)
2/24/2016 House Referred to Committee on Medical, Military, Public and
Municipal Affairs (House Journal-page 7)
View the latest legislative information at the website
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
TO AMEND SECTION 40-15-80, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE PRACTICE OF DENTAL HYGIENE, SO AS TO REVISE THE TREATMENTS THAT HYGIENISTS MAY PROVIDE IN VARIOUS SETTINGS AND THE DEGREE OF SUPERVISION, IF ANY, REQUIRED FOR THEIR PERFORMANCE OF THESE TREATMENTS, AND TO PROVIDE DENTAL HYGIENISTS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR DIRECT REIMBURSEMENT FOR TREATMENTS PROVIDED IN SETTINGS OUTSIDE A PRIVATE PRACTICE DENTAL OFFICE; AND TO REPEAL SECTION 40-15-102 RELATING TO SUPERVISION RESTRICTIONS ON DENTAL TREATMENT PROVIDED BY DENTAL HYGIENISTS IN SCHOOLS OR NURSING HOMES.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 40-15-80 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 40-15-80. (A) Any A person is considered to be practicing practice dental hygiene who when he engages in those clinical procedures primarily concerned with the performance of preventive dental services not constituting the practice of dentistry, including:
(1) removing all hard and soft deposits and stains from the surfaces of human teeth,;
(2) root planing,;
(3) performing clinical examination of teeth and surrounding tissues, and;
(4) charting of oral conditions for diagnosis by a dentist,; and (5) performing such other procedures as may be delegated by regulations of the board.
(B) In school settings, licensed dental hygienists may apply topical fluoride and may perform the application of sealants and oral prophylaxis under general supervision, with written permission of the student's parent or guardian.
(C) In hospitals, nursing homes, long term care facilities, rural and community clinics, health facilities operated by federal, state, county, or local governments, hospices, education institutions accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation that give instruction in dental hygiene, and in bona fide charitable institutions, licensed dental hygienists may apply topical fluoride and perform the application of sealants and oral prophylaxis under general supervision. Treatment may not occur in these settings unless medical emergency care is available within the facility. Without supervision, a licensed dental hygienist who has written permission from the parent or guardian of a student may provide the student reversible primary preventative dental care and application of a topical fluoride, dental sealant, and oral prophylaxis in a school setting.
(C)(1) Without supervision, a licensed dental hygienist may provide reversible primary preventative dental care and application of a topical fluoride, dental sealant, and oral prophylaxis in a:
(a) hospital;
(b) long-term care facility;
(c) rural and community clinic;
(d) medical office;
(e) health facility operated by the federal government, a state government, or a local government;
(f) hospice;
(g) education institution accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation to provide instruction in dental hygiene; and
(h) bona fide charitable institution.
(2) A licensed dental hygienist may not provide as a service pursuant to item (1), unless emergency medical care is available within the facility.
(D) Licensed dental hygienists may provide oral hygiene instruction and counseling, perform oral screenings, and provide nutrition and dietary counseling without prior authorization.
(E) Upon certification by the board and when under the direct general supervision of a practicing dentist, a licensed dental hygienist may administer local infiltration anesthesia.
(F) This section is not intended to establish independent dental hygiene practice.
(G) A dental hygienist is eligible to receive direct reimbursement for a service provided in a setting that is not a private practice dental office.
(GH) No person other than a licensed dentist or dental hygienist may use the title 'dental hygienist', present themselves himself as being a dental hygienist, or perform oral prophylaxis. This does not preclude an expanded duty dental assistant from polishing restorations and supra-gingival tooth structure. A dental hygienists practicing hygienist who practices under general supervision must or without supervision shall maintain professional liability insurance."
SECTION 2. Section 40-15-102 of the 1976 Code is repealed.
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
This web page was last updated on
February 26, 2016 at 11:03 AM