CDHA Measure to Eliminate the Registered Dental Hygienist in Alternative Practice (RDHAP) Prescription Requirement, Clears Major Legislative Hurdle

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (June 30, 2006) – A key measure to eliminate the required prescription for services prior to seeing an RDHAP, passed another hurdle on its way through the legislative process.

Assembly Bill 1334 (Salinas) would overturn current practice that requires the patient seeking the services of an RDHAP obtain a written prescription from a physician, surgeon or dentist which then allows the RDHAP to provide preventive and therapeutic services.

“This prescription requirement not only limits the RDHAP’s ability to provide direct access to preventive and therapeutic services, but the prescription’s restriction has come at an expense to the underserved consumers of California, many of which have no capacity to afford or access a visit to the dentist or physician to obtain this requirement,” said Susan McLearan, RDHAP, MS, president of the California Dental Hygienists’ Association (CDHA), which is sponsoring the bill.

RDHAPs have expressed frustration at the lack of cooperation among dentists in providing the prescription. In addition, AB 1334 corrects an inequity in the law that prohibits the RDHAP from delivering the same level of care as a California licensed RDH. AB 1334 would allow the RDHAP to perform all general supervision duties afforded in the RDH scope of practice.

Direct supervision duties, such as the administration of local anesthesia and nitrous oxide analgesia as well as soft tissue curettage, are not affected by this legislation and will continue to require the presence of a licensed dentist. The RDHAP will continue to be required to provide the state with the name of a dentist willing to accept referrals from and consult with the RDHAP on patient concerns.

“We believe this bill is critical to improving access to care for those populations, such as the homebound, institutionalized, and individuals with special needs, who need oral care the most. By removing the required prescription, consumers will have easier access to the preventive and therapeutic services of the RDHAP,” said McLearan.

The California Dental Association (CDA) claims that it is premature to remove the prescription requirement because they have not had adequate time to educate their members on the role of the RDHAP. They contend that through education of California dentists, the ease of securing the prescription from a dentist would improve.

“The RDHAP license category has been law since 1998, but only after legislation was drafted to remove the prescription did the CDA begin to provide its members with information on the role of the RDHAP,” says JoAnn Galliano, MEd, RDH, and member of CDHA’s Government Relations Council.

“What CDA fails to concede is that all licensed dental care providers, including registered dental assistants (RDA), dentists, registered dental hygienists (RDHs) and RDHAPs have received mandatory education on the role of the RDHAP in this state via required continuing education courses on the dental practice act,” she said. “Many providers are in their second cycle of these mandatory courses.”

AB 1334 has passed the Assembly and as of June 26, 2006, passed the Senate Business Professions and Economic Development committee. This legislation will go to the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee after the legislature reconvenes in August. Once it passes this committee, it will be heard for a full vote of the Senate and upon passage go on to the Governor for his signature.

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