Dental hygienist compact establishment
The implementation of this compact would have significant implications for state laws governing dental practice. By entering this agreement, states would grant participating dentists and dental hygienists the ability to work freely across state lines, supporting the notion of collaborative governance in healthcare. This would likely improve public access to dental services, but raises concerns regarding the uniformity of practice standards and regulations. Furthermore, it acknowledges the unique educational pathways required for licensure, with comprehensive rules aimed at ensuring high competency levels among practicing professionals across various jurisdictions.
SF2990 aims to establish a dentist and dental hygienist compact that allows licensed professionals to practice across participating states without having to fulfill separate state licensing requirements. The primary intent of the bill is to facilitate better access to dental and oral health services for communities while addressing the growing workforce shortages in the dental field. With streamlined licensure procedures, the compact is designed to enable quick adjustments to the dental workforce in response to public needs and crisis situations like pandemics, while also retaining the ability of individual states to set their own licensure regulations and standards.
Despite the potential benefits, SF2990 has faced scrutiny over the balance between state autonomy and the compact’s integrated approach to dental practice. Critics argue that the bill may undermine individual states' powers to regulate who can practice within their borders. Opponents are afraid that a common set of standards may overlook local specificities, thereby placing non-participating states or even rural areas at a disadvantage when it comes to establishing their own health standards. Additionally, concerns exist that the compact could lead to inconsistencies in quality across participating states, depending on how closely each state aligns with the compact's provisions.