Members of the Illinois Dental Hygienists Association (IDHA) held their annual lobby day April 9, 2008, and spent much of the day lobbying lawmakers against House Bill 5511.

HB 5511, sponsored by Sen. John Jones (R-Mt. Vernon), would hurt the hygiene profession in two ways. First, under the legislation the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation would be required to promulgate rules prohibiting the use of any new technology or techniques by a hygienist, impeding a patient’s access to the most efficient and safe methods of dental care. Secondly, HB 5511 would prohibit the dental hygienist members of the Illinois Board of Dentistry from participating in many of the rule-making and disciplinary actions of the board. Neither of these provisions improve the quality of or access to dental care.

Requires every dental office to develop and implement an emergency medical plan. Requires any dental office that administers anesthesia or sedation to have an AED.

Provides that dental services authorized under the Public Aid medical assistance program include preventive, diagnostic, or corrective procedures. Requires that dental services provide to those in the education, training, or employment programs operated by DHS must be provided by a licensed dentist. States that "dental services" mean diagnostic, preventive, or corrective procedures provided by a dentist or under the supervision of a dentist.

Appropriates $80 million from the state's General Revenue Fund (GRF) to the Dept. of Healthcare and Family Services for increasing dental service provider reimbursement rates.

Appropriates $250,000 from GRF to the Dept. of Public Health for awarding grants to dentists participating in the Dept.'s Dental Loan Repayments Program.

Appropriates $2 million from GRF to the Dept. of Healthcare and Family Services for awarding grants to develop local health department dental clinics.

IDHA introduced shell bill. No specific language at this time.

HB 5511     LIMIT RDH USE OF TECHNOLOGY AND ROLE ON IBOD (Rep. David Miller) - IDHA/IFT Position: Oppose

Requires rulemaking by the Illinois Board of Dentistry (IBOD) before hygienists may use new technology. Prohibits the hygienist members of the Board from participating in rulemaking or disciplinary cases that involve clinical standards or clinical judgments of dentists. Prohibits the imprinting of social security numbers on dental devices. (See the IDHA Fact Sheet.)

IDHA introduced legislation to allow dental hygienists to provide limited, cost-effective oral health care services to children who are Medicaid recipients. (See the IDHA Fact Sheet.)

Requires rulemaking by the Illinois Board of Dentistry (IBOD) before hygienists may use new technology. Prohibits the hygienist members of the Board from participating in rulemaking or disciplinary cases that involve clinical standards or clinical judgments of dentists. Prohibits the imprinting of social security numbers on dental devices.

Appropriates $80 million from the state's General Revenue Fund (GRF) to the Dept. of Healthcare and Family Services for increasing dental service provider reimbursement rates.

Appropriates $250,000 from GRF to the Dept. of Public Health for awarding grants to dentists participating in the Dept.'s Dental Loan Repayments Program.

Appropriates $2 million from GRF to the Dept. of Healthcare and Family Services for awarding grants to develop local health department dental clinics.

Provides that dental services authorized under the Public Aid medical assistance program include preventive, diagnostic, or corrective procedures. Requires that dental services provide to those in the education, training, or employment programs operated by DHS must be provided by a licensed dentist. States that "dental services" mean diagnostic, preventive, or corrective procedures provided by a dentist or under the supervision of a dentist.

IDHA introduced shell bill. No specific language at this time.