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Minutes for HB2453 - Committee on Health and Human Services
Short Title
Enacting the dentist and dental hygienist compact to provide interstate practice privileges for dentists and dental hygienists.
Minutes Content for Thu, Jan 25, 2024
Jenna Moyer, Revisor of Statutes, provided an overview of HB2453.
Ms. Moyer responded to questions from the committee.
Matt Shafer, The Council of State Governments (CSG), provided testimony in support of HB2453 (Attachment 1). There are approximately 425,000 licensed dentists and dental hygienists in the United States. Despite high demand for oral health, licensees are currently limited to providing services within state borders. The Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact seeks to provide licensees the opportunity for multi-state practice, support relocating practitioners, and foster workforce development by reducing licensure burdens. The Compact was created through a cooperative agreement between the Department of Defense and the Council of State Governments. Stakeholders from all the affected professions were included in the discussions. The Compact enables dentists and dental hygienists to get a compact privilege to practice in states that join the Compact, rather than getting licenses in multiple states. The dentist or hygienist must hold an active, unencumbered license in a compact state to be eligible. Practitioners must also pass a background check and meet the eligibility requirements related to education and examinations. The Compact benefits military families who are reassigned to new duty stations. Kansas will be able to charge a fee for the compact privilege. The Compact will be governed by a commission made up of member states, represented by a representative of the Kansas Dental Board. The Compact will come into effect once seven states join. The Compact will increase license portability, support military families and improve access to oral care.
Mr. Shafer responded to questions from the committee.
Mike O'Neal on behalf of the Association of Dental Support Organizations (ADSO) provided testimony in support of HB2453 (Attachment 2). The ADSO supports it member dental support organizations that provide business and operational support services to dentist and dental clinics. Dental services are lacking in many states, especially in economically disadvantaged and rural areas. This is true in Kansas, which ranks 39th nationally. 94 out of 105 counties are underserved. Speaking of Topeka, the city has experience a 19% decline in the number of dental offices over the recent 10 year period of 2011-2021. The Compact is similar in form and function to the eight occupational licensing compacts that Kansas is already a member. A list of those compacts was provided. Mr. O'Neal provided a handout put out by the CSG with information regarding the Compact.
Mr. O'Neal responded to questions from the committee.
Kevin Robertson, Executive Director, Kansas Dental Association (KDA), provided testimony in support of HB2453 (Attachment 3). The Compact advances an issue that the American Dental Association and the KDA have long supported, dental license reciprocity and portability. At issue is a network of several competing dental testing services/agencies which are piecemealed across the country each having their own unique view of testing requirements. Licensure by credential is a process whereby a dentist licensed in another state with a "clean" dental license history, background check and passing a Kansas jurisprudence exam can become licensed in Kansas without retaking a regional dental licensure exam. The Compact allows dentists and dental hygienists to move more freely between Compact states. Migration between states is an issue. Kansas has outperformed surrounding states with a positive migration rate between 2019-2022. Currently 4 states have passed the Compact with 11 states having introduced bill to join.
Mr. Robertson responded to questions from the committee.
Tonya Dorf Brunner, Executive Director, Oral Health Kansas, provided testimony in support of HB2453 (Attachment 4). It has been over a dozen years since a comprehensive study has been done on the dental workforce in Kansas. The study found that parts of the state are dental deserts, meaning that there are counties without any dental office. Enacting the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact would be an important tool in the state's efforts to ensure every Kansan has access to a dental practitioner. A top policy priority is increasing access to dental providers. The Compact preserves each member state's authority to regulate the profession.
The following provided written only testimony in support of the bill:
Lisa Thurlow, Private Citizen (Attachment 5)
Amanda Knutt, President, Kansas Dental Hygienists' Association (Attachment 6)
Michelle Richart, Midwest Regional Liaison, United States Department of Defense-State Liaison (Attachment 7)
Lane Hemsley, Executive Director, Kansas Dental Board, responded to questions from the committee.
The hearing was closed.
The meeting was adjourned at 2:18 PM.
