ENTAL HYGIENISTS: FEE FOR

ANESTHESIA CERTIFICATION

House Bill 4676

Sponsor:  Rep. Barb Vander Veen

Committee:  Health Policy

Complete to 2-13-04

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 4676 AS INTRODUCED 5-13-03

The bill would amend the Public Health Code to require the Department of Community Health (or a designee) to issue a certificate in the administration of local anesthesia to an eligible dental hygienist upon payment of a $10 fee.

Public Act 423 of 2002 amended the code to allow a dental hygienist, under the supervision of a dentist, to administer intraoral block and infiltration anesthesia to a patient 18 years of age or older when certain criteria had been met.  The criteria include: 1) successfully completing an accredited course in the administration of local anesthesia; 2) successfully completing a state or regional board-administered written examination; and 3) maintaining current certification in basic or advanced cardiac life support.  The code says that applying for certification in the administration of local anesthesia is at the discretion of each individual dental hygienist.

MCL 333.166611

FISCAL IMPACT:

House Bill 4676, as introduced, may produce modest costs and fee revenue for the state.  Fees will support the costs of the program. Because this training is optional for dental hygienists, and state certification is at the discretion of the hygienist, the fiscal impact of this bill is unknown.  If, annually, 20 percent of the dental hygienists licensed in Michigan were to choose to seek the state certification upon completion of this optional training, a $10 fee would provide approximately $18,100 of state revenue annually.  Currently 9,049 dental hygienists are licensed in Michigan.

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   Chris Couch

                                                                                                  Fiscal Analyst:   Susan Frey

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.