SB268

Existing law authorizes the Board of Dental Examiners of Nevada to issue to a licensed dental hygienist who meets certain qualifications prescribed by the Board a special endorsement that allows the dental hygienist to practice public health dental hygiene. Under existing law, a dental hygienist who holds such a special endorsement is authorized to provide services specified by the Board by regulation without the authorization or supervision of a dentist. (NRS 631.287) Existing regulations of the Board set forth: (1) various services that a dental hygienist who holds a special endorsement may provide without authorization or supervision of a dentist; (2) certain conditions for the provision of such services; and (3) the circumstances under which the authorization to provide such services may be suspended or revoked. (NAC 631.210) Section 12.5 of this bill codifies such authorized services, conditions and circumstances into statute. Sections 1, 3-9, 11, 12 and 14-16 of this bill require certain public and private policies of health insurance and health plans, including Medicaid, who provide coverage for a dental service that a qualified dental hygienist is authorized to provide without the supervision of a dentist to provide coverage for that service when provided by such a qualified dental hygienist without the supervision of a dentist to the same extent as if provided by a qualified dental hygienist under the supervision of a dentist. Sections 1, 3, 4, 6-8, 11, 12 and 16 def