Minnesota Passes Legislation Allowing Mid-level Oral Health Provider

CHICAGO, May 18 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- History was made on May 13, 2009,
as Minnesota became the first state to pass legislation allowing a "mid-level"
oral health provider into state statute - enabling students who are educated
under the Advanced Dental Hygiene Practitioner (ADHP) model to become licensed
to practice. The Minnesota state House and Senate overwhelmingly passed
Senate File 2083, a bill establishing the Dental Therapist and Advanced Dental
Therapist providers in the state. Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty signed the
bill into law on May 16.

The new providers will focus their practice on care for underserved
populations in the state and will administer educational, preventive,
palliative, therapeutic, and restorative services. The bill is supported by
the Minnesota Safety Net Coalition, which has taken the lead in advocating for
a new provider. Proponents of the OHP, including the Minnesota Dental
Hygienists' Association, have also lent support to the effort. The Minnesota
Dental Association is not opposed to the legislation.

The Dental Therapist/Advanced Dental Therapist provider language was the
culmination of nearly two years of work spearheaded by Minnesota State Senator
Ann Lynch who first brought legislation to establish a new oral health
provider forward in 2008. Senator Lynch along with Representative Cy Thao in
the House were integral in both supporting legislation for the new providers
and forging a compromise among the various stakeholders.

American Dental Hygienists' Association President Diann Bomkamp, RDH, BSDH
noted, "The leadership demonstrated by Senator Lynch, Representative Thao and
their colleagues who worked closely on this effort is to be commended.
Forging consensus on workforce issues is never easy but Minnesota is a
demonstration to others throughout the country that solutions can be developed
and implemented."

As previously mentioned, the legislation paves the way for the first students
in the country who are educated under the Advanced Dental Hygiene Practitioner
model to become licensed and enter the workforce. Minnesota licensed dental
hygienists who have met admission requirements are entering the Masters
program offered by Metropolitan State University in St. Paul, Minnesota. These
students will obtain the competencies needed to practice as Advanced Dental
Therapists in the state.

Interim Dean of Health Sciences of Normandale Community College and Co-Chair
of Metropolitan State University Dental Hygiene Program Colleen Brickle, RDH,
EdD, noted, "We are proud that our efforts in Minnesota will be part of an
access solution and pave the way for meeting the needs of underserved in other
states."

ADHA developed the AHDP provider model beginning in 2004 and finalized ADHP
Competencies in 2008. Providers educated under the ADHP model build on their
dental hygiene skill set by learning additional clinical skills and will also
become competent in skills necessary to navigate the complex health care
system, advocate for patients, and effectively manage a clinic or practice.
The providers will focus on providing care to underserved patient populations.

President Bomkamp commended the efforts in the state, remarking, "The passage
of the legislation in Minnesota is truly historic. The underserved in
Minnesota who have long struggled to obtain dental care that is so vital to
their overall health will now have a new provider to seek care from and a new
way to enter into the health care system."

For additional information about the effort in Minnesota, please see the
following links:

-- History of the midlevel effort
-- Full text of Senate File 2083
-- Metro State/Normandale ADT Program
-- ADHP Competencies
-- University of Minnesota's School of Dentistry Dental Therapy
Program
-- Minnesota Public Radio Story

-- Minnesota Dental Hygienists' Association

ADHA is the largest national organization representing the professional
interests of more than 150,000 dental hygienists across the country. Dental
hygienists are preventive oral health professionals, licensed in dental
hygiene, who provide educational, clinical and therapeutic services that
support total health through the promotion of optimal oral health. For more
information about ADHA, dental hygiene or the link between oral health and
general health, visit ADHA at http://www.adha.org.

SOURCE American Dental Hygienists' Association

Nick Olsen, ADHA, +1-312-440-8927, media@adha.net