Resolve, To Establish a Pilot Project for Independent Practice Dental Hygienists To Process Radiographs in Underserved Areas of the State

Sec. 1. Pilot project for underserved areas of the State. Resolved: That the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, Board of Dental Examiners shall establish a 2-year pilot project to allow a licensed independent practice dental hygienist to expose and process radiographs under protocols developed by the Board of Dental Examiners within areas of the State that have been designated by the United States Department of Health and Human Services as dental health professional shortage areas.

The Board of Dental Examiners shall adopt rules to implement the pilot project under this section. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. The rules for the pilot project must require that an independent practice dental hygienist have a written agreement with a licensed dentist providing that the dentist will be available to interpret all dental radiographs within 21 days from the date the radiograph is taken and that the dentist will sign a radiographic review and findings form.

The Board of Dental Examiners shall provide a report by January 15, 2013 to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over economic development matters regarding the status of the pilot project and its ability to improve access to dental health services in federally designated dental health professional shortage areas and recommendations for the continuance, discontinuance or modification of the pilot project.

The pilot project terminates March 15, 2014; and be it further

Sec. 2. Appropriations and allocations. Resolved: That the following appropriations and allocations are made.

PROFESSIONAL AND FINANCIAL REGULATION, DEPARTMENT OF

Dental Examiners - Board of 0384

Initiative: Allocates funds for the costs associated with establishing and administering a 2-year pilot project to allow a licensed independent practice dental hygienist to expose and process radiographs under protocols developed by the Board of Dental Examiners.

OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS	2011-12	2012-13
All Other	$3,700	$1,200
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL	$3,700	$1,200