VDHA is also supporting a bill introduced by Delegate Dawn Adams (D-Richmond) which allows dental hygienists employed by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to practice under remote supervision and offer mobile dentistry programs: (http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?ses=191&typ=bil&val=hb1849). VDHA, VDA and the Board of Dentistry (BOD) contacted the patron after we found out about the bill. It had to be amended because a related 2010 protocol is outdated and is not the current protocol. The following language was inserted into the legislation:

“Notwithstanding any provision of law, a dental hygienist employed by the Virginia Department of Health or the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services who holds a license issued by the Board of Dentistry may provide educational and preventative dental care in the Commonwealth under the remote supervision of a dentist employed by the Department of Health or the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services. A dental hygienist providing such services shall practice pursuant to a protocol or protocols jointly developed by the Department of Health and the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services in consultation with the Virginia Dental Association; and the Virginia Dental Hygienists' Association. Such protocol shall be adopted by the Board as regulations.”

VDA and VDHA are supportive of this legislation, as amended above. It has passed the House of Delegates and been referred to the Senate Education & Health Committee.