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
1Section
1. 15.405 (6) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB181,3,72
15.405
(6) (b) Three dental hygienists who are licensed under ch. 447.
The
3governor shall, to the extent possible, appoint members under this paragraph so that
4at least one of the members under this paragraph is an individual who is also a dental
5therapist licensed under ch. 447. Notwithstanding s. 15.08 (1m) (a), the
dental
6hygienist members
under this paragraph may participate in the preparation and
7grading of licensing examinations for dental hygienists.
SB181,2
8Section 2
. 36.61 (1) (ak) of the statutes is created to read:
SB181,3,109
36.61
(1) (ak) “Dental therapist” means an individual licensed under s. 447.04
10(1m).
SB181,3
11Section 3
. 36.61 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB181,3,1312
36.61
(1) (b) “Health care provider" means a
dental therapist, dental hygienist,
13physician assistant, nurse-midwife, or nurse practitioner.
SB181,4
14Section 4
. 36.61 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB181,3,2115
36.61
(3) (a) The board shall enter into a written agreement with the health
16care provider. In the agreement, the health care provider shall agree to practice at
17least 32 clinic hours per week for 3 years in one or more eligible practice areas in this
18state or in a rural area, except that a health care provider in the expanded loan
19assistance program under sub. (8) who is not a
dental therapist or dental hygienist
20may only agree to practice at a public or private nonprofit entity in a health
21professional shortage area.
SB181,5
1Section
5. 36.61 (5) (b) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB181,4,72
36.61
(5) (b) 1. The degree to which there is an extremely high need for medical
3care in the eligible practice area, health professional shortage area, or rural area in
4which an eligible applicant who is not a
dental therapist or dental hygienist desires
5to practice and the degree to which there is an extremely high need for dental care
6in the dental health shortage area or rural area in which an eligible applicant who
7is a
dental therapist or dental hygienist desires to practice.
SB181,6
8Section 6
. 36.61 (8) (c) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB181,4,129
36.61
(8) (c) 3. Practice at a public or private nonprofit entity in a health
10professional shortage area, if the health care provider is not a
dental therapist or 11dental hygienist, or in a dental health shortage area, if the health care provider is
12a
dental therapist or dental hygienist.
SB181,7
13Section 7
. 146.81 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB181,4,1414
146.81
(1) (c) A dentist
or dental therapist licensed under ch. 447.
SB181,8
15Section 8
. 146.89 (1) (r) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB181,4,2016
146.89
(1) (r) 1. Licensed as a physician under ch. 448, a dentist
, dental
17therapist, or dental hygienist under ch. 447, a registered nurse, practical nurse, or
18nurse-midwife under ch. 441, an optometrist under ch. 449, a physician assistant
19under ch. 448, a pharmacist under ch. 450, a chiropractor under ch. 446, a podiatrist
20under subch. IV of ch. 448, or a physical therapist under subch. III of ch. 448.
SB181,9
21Section 9
. 146.89 (1) (r) 5. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB181,5,222
146.89
(1) (r) 5. An individual who holds a valid, unexpired license,
23certification, or registration issued by another state or territory that authorizes or
24qualifies the individual to perform acts that are substantially the same as those acts
25that an individual who is described in subds. 1. to 4., except a dentist
, dental
1therapist, or dental hygienist, is licensed or certified to perform and who performs
2acts that are within the scope of that license, certification, or registration.
SB181,10
3Section 10
. 146.89 (3) (b) 8. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB181,5,84
146.89
(3) (b) 8. Dental services, including tooth extractions and other
5procedures done under local anesthesia only and any necessary suturing related to
6the extractions, performed by a dentist
or dental therapist who is a volunteer health
7provider; and dental hygiene services, performed by a dental hygienist who is a
8volunteer health provider.
SB181,11
9Section 11
. 146.89 (3m) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB181,5,1310
146.89
(3m) (intro.) A volunteer health care provider who is a dentist
or dental
11therapist may provide dental services or a volunteer health care provider who is a
12dental hygienist may provide dental hygiene services, to persons who are recipients
13of Medical Assistance, if all of the following apply:
SB181,12
14Section 12
. 146.997 (1) (d) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB181,5,1515
146.997
(1) (d) 3. A dentist
or dental therapist licensed under ch. 447.