Pignatelli-Backed Dental Health Bill Passes
BOSTON — A bill promoting oral hygiene spearheaded by state Rep. William "Smitty" Pignatelli was signed by Gov. Deval Patrick as one of the final acts one of the final acts in the 2006-2008 legislative session.The legislation allows registered dental hygienists, without the supervision of a dentist, the ability to see patients in public health settings such as schools, community health centers, and nursing homes. Current Massachusetts law prevents dental hygienists from delivering services except under the supervision of dentists. Because MassHealth already covers services delivered by a dental hygienist, the legislation would require no additional monetary expenditure by the Commonwealth.
The bill was filed in response to the lack of access to oral health care, which has reached crisis proportions, especially in the Berkshires, said Pignatelli. More than 50 percent of cities and towns in Massachusetts have no dentist willing to accept MassHealth-eligible patients. Only 17 percent of approximately 5,600 active licensed dentists in Massachusetts filed even one MassHealth dental claim in fiscal 2007. While 460,000 children are MassHealth-eligible, there are only 641 dentists in the state willing to treat them. As a result, many low-income people are forced to go without seeing either a dentist or a dental hygienist.
"Because of the hard work of Representative Pignatelli who led this effort, Massachusetts is on the verge of joining 30 other states that recognize that dental hygienists can assist in meeting the demand for quality oral health care by providing cost-effective and quality preventive dental treatment to individuals who would otherwise not have access to either a dentist or a dental hygienist," said Maureen Strauss, president of the Massachusetts Dental Hygienists Association.
Through the work of Pignatelli, his colleague Rep. John Scibak, D-South Hadley, and the leadership of the speaker and the Senate president, the language contained in the bill won the support of all key players in the oral health community, including the Massachusetts Dental Society. In addition to allowing dental hygienists to serve patients on MassHealth, the omnibus oral health bill will provide statutory authority to the Office of Oral Health and provide a professional track for dental assistants.
Oral health is a critical component of total health. Recent research has linked periodontal disease to heart and lung disease, diabetes, premature, low birthweight babies, and a number of other systemic diseases. The early detection and treatment of oral disease is critical to saving lives. During oral health examinations, dental hygienists can detect signs of many diseases and conditions like HIV, oral cancer, eating disorders, substance abuse, osteoporosis, and diabetes. It is not only socially responsible, but also fiscally prudent, to increase access to preventive services.
"This bill complements the already impressive leadership on the part of our elected officials who have gone further than any other state in providing access to health care to its residents," added Strauss.
