17 CAR Part 53 — Rules Pertaining to Dental Hygienists Serving Underserved Areas

Chapter XI

Subchapter A

Subpart 1

17 CAR § 53-101 Purpose {#sec-17-car-53-101 omnilex-key=us-ar-regs-official--title-17-part-53--17 CAR § 53-101}

17 CAR § 53-101. Purpose.

To protect the health of the citizens of Arkansas by promulgating rules providing limited governance of the services provided by a dental hygienist working under a collaborative care permit program with a licensed dentist.

17 CAR § 53-102 Definitions {#sec-17-car-53-102 omnilex-key=us-ar-regs-official--title-17-part-53--17 CAR § 53-102}

17 CAR § 53-102. Definitions.

For the purposes of this part, the following words and phrases when used herein shall be construed as follows:

(1) "Collaborative agreement" means a written agreement between a dentist licensed by the Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners and a dental hygienist licensed by the Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners providing that the dental hygienist may provide prophylaxis, fluoride treatments, sealants, dental hygiene instruction, assessment of a patient's need for further treatment by a dentist, and, if delegated by the consulting dentist, other services provided by law to children, senior citizens, and persons with developmental disabilities in a public setting without the supervision and presence of the dentist and without a prior examination of the persons by the dentist;

(2) "Collaborative dental hygienist" means a dental hygienist who holds a Collaborative Care Permit I, a Collaborative Care Permit II, or both from the Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners and who has entered into a collaborative agreement with no more than one (1) consulting dentist regarding provision of services under Arkansas Code § 17-82-701 et seq.;

(3) "Consulting dentist" means a dentist who holds a Collaborative Dental Care Permit from the Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners and:

(A) If engaged in the private practice of dentistry, has entered into a collaborative agreement with no more than three (3) collaborative dental hygienists regarding the provision of services under Arkansas Code § 17-82-701 et seq.; or

(B) Is employed by the Department of Health; and

(4) "Public settings" means:

(A) Adult long-term care facilities;

(B) Charitable health clinics that provide free or reduced-fee services to low-income patients;

(C) Community health centers;

(D) County incarceration facilities;

(E) Facilities that primarily serve individuals with intellectual or other developmental disabilities;

(F) Head Start programs;

(G) Homes of homebound patients who qualify for in-home medical assistance;

(H) Hospital long-term care units;

(I) Local health units;

(J) Schools; or

(K) State correctional institutions.

17 CAR § 53-103 Specific requirements {#sec-17-car-53-103 omnilex-key=us-ar-regs-official--title-17-part-53--17 CAR § 53-103}

17 CAR § 53-103. Specific requirements.

(a) The Department of Health’s Office of Oral Health shall determine prioritization of communities in which collaborative services are permitted based upon provider availability, relevant oral health surveillance data, and other applicable public health datasets deemed appropriate by the department.

(b) Services will be limited to public settings, including but not limited to:

(1) Adult long-term care facilities;

(2) Charitable clinics that provide free or reduced-fee services to low-income patients;

(3) Community health centers;

(4) County incarceration facilities;

(5) Facilities that primarily serve developmentally disabled patients;

(6) Head Start programs;

(7) Homes of homebound patients who qualify for in-home medical assistance;

(8) Hospital long-term care units;

(9) Local health units;

(10) State correctional institutions; or

(11) Schools.

(c) Patients will be encouraged to establish a dental home.

(d)(1) A consulting dentist in a collaborative care program with a dental hygienist must consult the office for permission to practice collaborative care in prioritized areas.

(2) Permission must be confirmed annually.

(e) The office will keep appropriate records.

(f) The office shall publish to the department website a directory of datasets and reports that will be utilized when assessing a community’s oral health indicators to determine priority areas based on available provider’s service area.