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Committee holds bill to let public‑health dental hygienists be reimbursed by third‑party payers
Summary
President Gallo and witnesses described S.B. 609 to allow public‑health dental hygienists to perform certain services in schools, nursing homes and mobile programs without direct dentist supervision and to permit reimbursement by Medicare and other third‑party payers; the committee held the bill after testimony from EOHHS and written supporters.
President Gallo presented Senate Bill 609 on April 3, a measure to permit reimbursement to dental hygienists from other insurance or third‑party payers — including Medicare — and to allow public‑health dental hygienists to perform preventive procedures in settings such as schools, nursing homes and mobile health programs without direct dentist supervision.
President Gallo told the committee the bill requires a written collaborative agreement with a dentist or government agency, patient consent forms and guidance for Medicaid and state program reimbursement. She said the measure is intended to address an insufficient number of dentists and to increase access to preventive services for elderly and pediatric populations.
An EOHHS official who identified themselves in the hearing record as Sam Ziskinbaum said public‑health dental hygienists have been authorized in statute since 2016 and that Rhode Island currently has roughly 71 such hygienists who can work in schools, assisted‑living facilities and homes. The witness described silver diamine fluoride as “a caries arresting material” used in some preventive programs and said allowing hygienists to apply it in schools or congregate settings could reduce emergency dental problems among children.
Several organizations submitted written support; one witness (Matt Netto from AARP RI) was listed as written support. After testimony the committee voted to hold the bill. The motion to hold was made and seconded on the record, and the committee announced S.B. 609 was held for further consideration.
