Ohio EFDAs Support House Bill 184 to expand access to dental care
The Ohio EFDA Association supports Ohio House Bill 184 sponsored by Representatives Theresa Gavarone (R-Bowling Green) and Anthony DeVitis (R-Green). The bill passed the Ohio House by a vote of 87-5 on October 11 and now is under consideration in the Ohio Senate.
The bill proposes the following reforms to improve access to dental care:
Allow for the use of tele-dentistry to extend care into underserved areas of Ohio
Double the capacity of the Ohio Dentist Loan Repayment Program, which provides loan repayment for dentists who practice in underserved areas of the state through a surcharge on dental licensure fees
Create the Primary Care Dental Student Scholarship component of the Choose Ohio First Scholarship Program providing dental school scholarships for dental students who agree to practice in designated underserved areas upon graduation
Permits hygienists and EFDAs to perform certain services when a supervising dentist is not physically present for an unlimited period of time.
Promote licensure portability to enhance Ohio’s attractiveness as a state in which qualified dentists establish their dental practices
The Ohio Dental Association was instrumental in bringing this legislation forward. Ohio EFDAs are encouraged to contact their state senator and key members of the Ohio Senate to urge a YES vote on House Bill 184.
To contact your senator, send a message to key senators on this issue, and get an in-depth analysis of House 148 use your member log-in to access the Advocacy page of this website.
