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STATE OF OKLAHOMA
2nd Session of the 59th Legislature (2024)
HOUSE BILL 4041 By: Townley
AS INTRODUCED
An Act relating to professions and occupations;
amending 59 O.S. 2021, Section 328.54 , which relates
to dental practice; modifying tele dentistry
requirements; amending 63 O.S. 2021, Section s 1-2711
and 1-2712, which relate to the Oklahoma Dental Loan
Repayment Act; adding legislative findings;
increasing certain repayment program allowances;
modifying program requirements; and providing an
effective date.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 59 O.S. 2021, Section 328.54, is
amended to read as follows:
Section 328.54 A. Any person conducting a diagnosis for the
purpose of prescribing medication or treatment or any other action
determined to be a dental practice as defined by the State Dental
Act, via the Internet or other telecommunications dev ice on any
patient that is physically located in this state shall hold a valid
Oklahoma state dental license.
B. A dentist holding a valid dental license in Oklahoma may
consult, diagnose and treat a patient of record via synchronous or
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asynchronous telecommunication between the patient and dentist. The
dentist must record a ll activities relating to teledentistry in the
patient record and must have an off ice location in Oklahoma
available for follow-up treatment and maintenance of records in
Oklahoma or adjacent to Oklahoma and within fifty (50) miles of an
Oklahoma border of a state with an interstate dental and dental
hygienist compact.
SECTION 2. AMENDATORY 63 O.S. 2021, Section 1-2711, is
amended to read as follows:
Section 1-2711. A. The Legislature recognizes that there is a
need to:
1. Upgrade the availability of quality dental care services for
the people of Oklahoma;
2. Improve the balance of dental manpower distributio n in the
state by geographic location ; and
3. Increase access to dental care to those who are dependent on
the state for necessary dental care ;
4. Allow providers to work at the top of their license and
utilize supporting roles; and
5. Address the need for dental faculty.
B. The purpose of the Oklahoma Dental Loan Repayment Act shall
be to:
1. Increase the number of dent ists serving and caring for those
dependent upon the state for dental care; and
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2. Ensure that dental care and services are accessibl e
throughout the state, and specifical ly, that quality dental care and
services be accessible to underserved dental areas in rural and
metropolitan areas of the state, and to those dependent upon the
state for dental care.
SECTION 3. AMENDATORY 63 O.S. 2021, Section 1 -2712, is
amended to read as follows:
Section 1-2712. A. 1. The State Department of Health shall
administer the Oklahoma D ental Loan Repayment Program.
2. The Program, depending upon available funding, shall provid e
educational loan repayment assistance for up to a total of twenty-
five thirty full-time equivalent Oklahoma licensed dentists per year
including new and continuing con tract renewable participants.
3. Each award shall be for a co ntracted period and shall be
distributed to the participant by drafts made payable to the
participant for deposit to an appropriate loan agency in equal
monthly disbursements, not to exc eed Fifty Thousand Dollars
($50,000.00) Sixty Thousand Dollars ($60,000.00) per year for a
maximum five-year period. Prior to any disbursement, the Department
shall certify and properly review monthly report s submitted by the
participating dentist detailing performance of activities in
accordance with the Oklahoma Dental Loan Repayment Act.
4. At the conclusion of the minimum service obligation, the
Department shall review the performance in the Program of t he
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participating dentist and determi ne whether an award may be granted
for an additional period not to exceed a total participation in the
Program of five (5) years pursuant to rules promulgated by the
Department.
B. Any dentist entering the Program each year as a nonfaculty
participant shall agree to provide dental care and services to
Medicaid recipients as authorized by the Oklahoma Health Ca re
Authority. The Department shall be responsible for ensuring that at
least thirty percent (30%) of the patient s treated by the dentist
will be Medicaid recipients.
1. Any general practice denti st entering the Program each year
as a nonfaculty participa nt shall agree to provide dental care and
services in a designated Dental Health Professional Shortage Area
(DHPSA) of this state.
2. Any dentist licensed to practice as a Pediatric Dentistry
Specialist as defined by the State Dental Act or any dentist
practicing in a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), FQHC look -
alike, county health department or city-county health department may
be exempt from the requirement to practice in a Dental Health
Professional Shortage Area (DHPSA).
C. A dentist entering the Program as a faculty participant
shall agree to teach at the University of Oklahoma College of
Dentistry. In the event there are no appropriate faculty
applicants, the Program may award addit ional nonfaculty dentists.
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D. A dentist shall be eligible t o participate in the Program if
the dentist:
1. Is a new dental school graduate. Preference will be given
to graduates of the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry;
2. Is licensed to prac tice dentistry in Oklahoma; and
3. Has demonstrated financi al need.
E. The dentist shall execute a contract with the Department to
provide dental services pursuant to the terms of the contract and in
accordance with rules promulgated by the Department.
F. If the dentist does not fulfill the service obligation, t he
Department may collect from the participant the entire amount of
loan payments made under the Program plus int erest.
G. The Department shall present a report on the operation of
the Program to the Governor, the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate within
one (1) month of the beginning of each regular session of the
Legislature including but not limited to the progress made in
accomplishing the go al of the Program.
SECTION 4. This act shall become effective November 1, 2024.
59-2-9135 SW 01/03/24