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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 16, 2007
Contact: Tracy Polovick
Coordinator of Communications and Outreach
(717) 787-8524
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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.