Committee backs bill to authorize teledentistry and set statewide rules

The committee recommended a do-pass for House Bill 567, a measure that would authorize teledentistry in Georgia and set standards for dental teams delivering care remotely.

Representative Katie Dempsey, the bill sponsor, told the committee the measure "authorize[s] and the practice of teledentistry in Georgia by Georgia licensed oral health care team members through the Georgia Board of Dentistry to ensure that patient safety remains the priority while maintaining a continuous standard of care and sustaining the Georgia licensed dentist as the leader of that oral health care team." She said the bill is intended to expand access while preserving the dentist-led team model and existing general-supervision rules for hygienists.

The bill, Dempsey said, would allow patients "with a dental home to establish care with a dental provider in order to receive consultation and direction to appropriate care" and would permit dentists to authorize hygienists to perform specified hygiene functions under general supervision. HB 567 would require both patient and dentist to be physically located in Georgia during teledentistry encounters and would preserve requirements for examination, radiographs and in-person treatment when clinically indicated. The sponsor also said the bill "prevents insurers covering dentistry from mandating teledentistry appointments."

Speakers representing the profession endorsed the measure while offering technical comments. Dr. Ben Jernigan, former president of the Georgia Dental Association, said the bill "clarifies the rights and responsibilities for dentists who practice both in person and remotely" and added that "One of the main purposes of this bill is patient protection." He told the committee the bill would help people in underserved areas establish remote access to a dentist.

Steve Tippens, representing the Georgia Dental Hygienist Association, said the association does not oppose the bill but sought clarity on whether the bill had removed a prior requirement for an initial in‑person examination in public-health ‘‘safety-net’’ settings. Tippens told the panel that a carve-out in last year’s bill (lines 98–110 in that version) was intended to accommodate DPH and safety-net settings; he said members were not certain whether the current draft had fully accomplished the intent and asked to work with the author.

A representative from the Georgia Dental Association (Janelle) told the committee the drafting team "removed an initial in-person requirement before you could start teledentistry" so patients without a dental home could begin care remotely, and she confirmed — in response to hygienist questions — that the removal of the in-person requirement made last-session carve-outs unnecessary.

The bill drew questions about how teledentistry would operate in practice. Representative Parsons asked whether a typical encounter would be a Zoom-style visit to triage an after-hours mouth injury; Dempsey and witnesses agreed the modality could be used for triage, consultation and to avoid unnecessary emergency department visits. Testimony also described uses with trained staff (for example, school nurses or hygienists) facilitating a remote exam when a dentist is not on site.

After testimony and questions, a member moved that HB 567 be given a due-pass recommendation; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. The bill will move to the next legislative step in the process.