Legislature(2017 - 2018)SENATE FINANCE 532
04/24/2018 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB346 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | HB 150 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 346 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 346(L&C)
"An Act relating to the licensure of dentists."
10:34:48 AM
Co-Chair MacKinnon noted that SB 150 had been removed from
the schedule.
Co-Chair MacKinnon directed attention to HB 346.
REPRESENTATIVE SAM KITO, SPONSOR, spoke to the bill. He
relayed that the bill would facilitate making sure that all
Alaskans had access to dental care. He discussed situations
in which rural areas did not have access to a dentist. The
bill allowed for the provision of a temporary license by
the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic
Development (DCCED).
10:36:49 AM
CAITLYN ELLIS, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE SAM KITO, discussed
the bill. She referenced a document pertaining to the
number of dental specialists in Alaska (copy on file).
General Dentists 511
Total Dental Specialists 136
Breakdown of Dental Specialists
Oral Surgery 30
Endodontics 13
Orthodontics 31
Pediatrics 30
Prosthodontics 8
Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology 3
Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology 0
Periodontics 6
Dental Public Health 15
Ms. Ellis reiterated that the bill allowed for the issuance
of a temporary license, that could be issued for a quarter
of the time of a full license, at a quarter of the cost.
The license could be renewed once. She mentioned that DCCED
had requested regulation transition language be added to
the bill.
10:38:43 AM
Co-Chair MacKinnon asked for a walk-through of the bill
sections.
Ms. Ellis discussed the sections of the bill. She stated
that Section 1 specified that a license was required to
practice in the state. Section 2 listed the necessary
qualifications for a temporary permit. She noted that
Section 2 had been amended in a committee substitute in the
other body. Section 2 specified the length of time of the
permits. She noted that the last line of the bill defined
"incapacitated."
Senator Stevens asked about the length of time of the
proposed temporary license, and whether dentists licensed
internationally were eligible for the temporary permits.
Ms. Ellis referenced Section 2, Line 13:
(1) hold an active license from a board of dental
examiners established under the laws of a state or
territory of the United States issued after through
examination;
Ms. Ellis spoke to Section 2, Subsection (f):
(f) A temporary permit issued under this section is
initially valid for 90 consecutive calendar days. Upon
request of a permittee, the board shall extend a
permit issued under this section for 60 calendar days
if, before the expiration of the initial 90-day
permit, the permittee submits to the board a completed
application form and the fee required under this
chapter, except that the board may refuse to grant a
request for an extension for the same reasons the
board my revoke a license under AS 08.36.315. Permits
and extensions of permits issued to a permittee under
this section are not valid for more than 240 calendar
days during any consecutive 24 months.
10:41:11 AM
Co-Chair MacKinnon looked at Page 2, Line 20:
(g) The board may extend a permit issued under this
section for a period that exceeds the limit
established in (f) of this section of the board
determines that the extension is necessary to provide
essential dental services and the board has clearance
report from the
(1) National Practitioner Data Bank; and
(2) United States Drug Enforcement Administration
Co-Chair MacKinnon OPENED public testimony.
10:42:18 AM
DAVID LOGAN, ALASKA DENTAL SOCIETY, JUNEAU (via
teleconference), testified in support of the bill. He
relayed that there had been incidences over the past 5
years where practitioners had become incapacitated and
unable to perform dentistry. He said that there were not
enough specialists in-state to fill the need and that out-
of-state specialists were the only option for patients to
continue to receive service.
Senator Olson asked whether Dr. Logan had been on the
dental board in the past.
Dr. Logan answered in the affirmative.
Senator Olson asked how the board would assure that the
out-of-state dentists were thoroughly vetted.
Dr. Logan replied that specialists looking for coverage
would vet the person taking over and that the person
filling in would likely be a former classmate or colleague.
He added that most importantly the candidate would have an
active license in another state; disciplinary infractions
in other states would result in the revocation of the
license.
Senator Olson wondered about possible pending disciplinary
action.
Dr. Logan said that all pending infractions would be part
of a databank and could be researched by the board.
10:45:08 AM
Co-Chair MacKinnon referenced Dr. Logan's letter dated
January 18, 2018 (copy on file). She read from the second
paragraph:
"The smaller communities typically have itinerate
coverage and when that is disrupted, as was the case
during the past two years, it forces patients in those
communities to either go without care or to have to
travel to larger communities."
Co-Chair MacKinnon read from Page 2, Lines 3 through 5, of
the bill:
(c) A temporary permit issued under this section is
valid only to treat patients of the incapacitated
dentist at an address listed on the business license
of the incapacitated dentist.
Co-Chair MacKinnon wondered what the bill meant for
traveling dentists.
Dr. Logan replied that the language was meant to highlight
that the temporary permits were strictly for replacing
incapacitated dentists and not for any side practice. He
believed that this would safeguard that this was not a work
around for the licensure process.
Co-Chair MacKinnon asked about new clientele and wondered
whether new patients would be able to receive care from the
temporary replacement of the incapacitated dentist.
Dr. Logan responded that new patients could receive care.
He stressed that the intent was for use typically by
specialists, which generally did not maintain patient
records. He noted that general dentists generally referred
their patients to a specialist.
10:47:59 AM
DAVID NIELSON, STATE DENTAL BOARD, ANCHORAGE (via
teleconference), testified that the board was in total
support of the bill. The department had asked regulations
to be produced that would support and expand on the
qualifications to receive the temporary permit. He
supported the work that had been done to craft the
legislation.
Co-Chair MacKinnon CLOSED public testimony.
10:49:37 AM
Co-Chair MacKinnon solicited comments from DCCED.
JANEY MCCULLOUGH, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF CORPORATIONS,
BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSING, DEPARTMENT OF
COMMERCE, COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, requested
that the committee consider transition language that would
allow the department and the Board of Dental Examiners to
conduct a regulations project to implement the bill. She
supported an effective date of January 1, 2019; to get the
necessary work done.
Vice-Chair Bishop discussed FN 1 from Department of
Commerce, Community and Economic Development. He relayed
that the funding would cover the legal cost of the
regulation package printing and postage in the first year.
Co-Chair MacKinnon commented on the July 1, 2019 regulation
date as listed on the fiscal note.
Ms. McCullough stated that the work could be completed by
January 1, 2019.
Co-Chair MacKinnon stated that the committee would work to
update and modify the fiscal note to include the effective
date for regualtion. She said that the committee would work
with the sponsor to draft regualtion to reflect transition
language and effective date for the regulations
implementation. she would work with the sponsor
Co-Chair MacKinnon noted that Senator Stevens had been a
strong advocate for the bill.
CSHB 346 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
Co-Chair MacKinnon discussed housekeeping.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 346 Public Testimony Silveria.pdf |
SFIN 4/24/2018 9:00:00 AM |
HB 346 |
| HB346 Explanation of Changes ver A to ver D 2.23.18.pdf |
SFIN 4/24/2018 9:00:00 AM |
HB 346 |
| HB346 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
SFIN 4/24/2018 9:00:00 AM |
HB 346 |
| HB346 Letters of Support 2.17.18.pdf |
SFIN 4/24/2018 9:00:00 AM |
HB 346 |
| HB346 Supporting Document - Dentist specialty numbers.pdf |
SFIN 4/24/2018 9:00:00 AM |
HB 346 |