Kansas committee hears bill to repeal dentist ‘‘20% presence’’ requirement amid debate over access and oversight

The Kansas Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 31 on an amended Dental Practice Act provision that would repeal a statutory rule requiring dentist owners to be physically present in an office for at least 20% of the time dentistry is performed there.

Proponents said the 20% rule restricts practice expansion, limits access to care and is unique to Kansas; opponents said removing it would risk owner oversight, erode patient trust and would not guarantee more services in underserved or Medicaid populations.

Jenna Moyer, Office of Advisors — Statutes, summarized the bill’s text, saying it would amend multiple sections of the Kansas statutes that govern dentistry. “Section 1 amends K.S.A. 65-1430 … to require a treating dentist to provide a requesting patient with information about the dentist, the dental practice and emergency contact information,” Moyer said. She described changes that would strike the 20% personal‑presence requirement from K.S.A. 65-1435, add a new disciplinary offense for directing substandard care,…