SB 22-219

Senate Bill 22-219, which has been signed into law in Colorado, regulates dental therapists by requiring them to be licensed by the state's dental board. This means that anyone wanting to practice as a dental therapist must graduate from an approved program and pass a clinical exam. Initially, these professionals will need direct supervision from a licensed dentist for their first 1,000 hours of work before they can operate under indirect supervision with a detailed plan in place. The bill also sets insurance requirements for dental therapists and allows certain educational institutions to offer advanced standing in accredited programs. This regulation aims to ensure that dental therapists provide safe and effective care while expanding access to routine and preventive dental services.

Official Summary

On and after May 1, 2023, the act prohibits a person from practicing dental therapy in the state unless licensed by the Colorado dental board (board). A licensed dental therapist is authorized to deliver routine and preventive dental care. A person who desires to qualify for practice as a dental therapist must file with the board a written application for a license, proof of graduation from a school of dental therapy or a dental therapy program that meets the requirements of the act, and proof of completion of a clinical examination for dental therapy that: Is designed to test the applicant's clinical dental therapy skills and knowledge; Includes dental therapy restorative and dental hygiene clinical skill evaluation; and Is administered by a regional testing agency composed of at least 4 states or an examination of another state. A dental therapist is allowed to practice only under the direct supervision of a licensed dentist until the dental therapist practices for 1,000 hours. After reaching 1,000 hours, the dental therapist may practice under the indirect supervision of a licensed dentist pursuant to a written articulated plan. The articulated plan must include: Methods of dentist supervision, consultation, and approval; Protocols for informed consent, record keeping, quality assurance, and dispensing or administering medications; Policies for handling referrals when a patient needs services the dental therapist is not authorized or qualified to provide; Protocols for assessment of dental disease and the formulation of an individualized treatment plan authorized by the supervising dentist; Policies for handling medical emergencies; and Policies for supervising dental assistants and working with dental hygienists and other dental practitioners and staff. A licensed dental therapist must maintain professional liability insurance in an amount not less than $500,000 per incident and $1.5 million annual aggregate per year; except that this requirement is not applicable to a dental therapist who is a public employee under the "Colorado Governmental Immunity Act". A state institution of higher education offering an accredited dental therapy training program may grant advanced standing toward completion of an accredited dental therapy program if a student meets the conditions specified in the act. Effective July 1, 2031, the act modifies the composition of the board by replacing 2 members, one dental hygienist and one member representing the public at large, with 2 dental therapists. To implement the act, for the 2022-23 state fiscal year, $14,786 is appropriated to the department of regulatory agencies from the division of professions and occupations cash fund for reappropriation to the department of law. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

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