DENTAL ASST: SECOND PAIR OF HANDS                                                 H.B. 4718 (H-2):

                                                                                                      FLOOR SUMMARY

House Bill 4718 (Substitute H-2 as reported without amendment)

Sponsor:  Representative Eileen Kowall

House Committee:  Health Policy

Senate Committee:  Health Policy

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Public Health Code to authorize a dental assistant to act as a "second pair of hands" for a dentist or dental hygienist.

"Second pair of hands" would mean that term as defined in R 338.11101 of the Michigan Administrative Code.  (Under that rule, the term means acts, tasks, functions, and procedures performed by a dental assistant, registered dental assistant, or registered dental hygienist at the direction of a dentist who is in the process of rendering dental services and treatment to a patient.  The definition states that these acts, tasks, functions, and procedures are ancillary to the procedures performed by the dentist and intended to provide help and assistance at the time they are performed.)

Under the bill, a dental hygienist could use a dental assistant to act as his or her second pair of hands.  A dental assistant could function as a second pair of hands for a dentist or dental hygienist if both of the following conditions were met:

-- The dentist or dental hygienist was actively performing services in the mouth of a patient at the time the dental assistant was assisting him or her.

-- If the dental assistant were assisting a dental hygienist, a supervising dentist had assigned the assistant to act as the hygienist's second pair of hands.

The section the bill would add would not require new or additional third-party reimbursement or mandated worker's compensation benefits for services rendered by an individual licensed as a dental assistant or as a dental hygienist.

Proposed MCL 333.16626                                               Legislative Analyst:  Julie Cassidy

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.

Date Completed:  6-13-12                                                     Fiscal Analyst:  Josh Sefton

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.