Oklahoma 2025 Regular Session

Oklahoma House Bill HB2899 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

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	3	+	HB2899 HFLR Page 1
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28		-	ENGROSSED HOUSE
29		-	BILL NO. 2899 By: Eaves of the House
	29	+	HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES - FLOOR VERSION
	30	+
	31	+	STATE OF OKLAHOMA
	32	+
	33	+	1st Session of the 60th Legislature (2025)
	34	+
	35	+	HOUSE BILL 2899 By: Eaves of the House
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31	37		and
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33	39		Pederson of the Senate
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	45	+	AS INTRODUCED
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40	47		An Act relating to professions and occupations;
41	48		amending 59 O.S. 2021, Section 328.54, which relates
42	49		to dental practice; modifying teledentistry
43	50		requirements; amending 63 O.S. 2021, Sections 1 -2711
44		-	and 1-2712, which relate to the Oklahoma Dental Loan
	51	+	and 2-2712, which relate to the Oklahoma Dental Loan
45	52		Repayment Act; adding legislative findings;
46	53		increasing certain repayment program allowances;
47	54		modifying program requirements; adding an exemption;
48	55		and providing an effective date.
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54	61		BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
55	62		SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 59 O.S. 2021, Se ction 328.54, is
56	63		amended to read as follows:
57	64		Section 328.54. A. Any person conducting a diagnosis for the
58	65		purpose of prescribing medication or treatment or any other action
59	66		determined to be a dental practice as defined by the State Dental
60	67		Act, via the Internet or other telecommunications device on any
61		-	patient that is physically located in this state shall hold a valid
62		-	Oklahoma state dental license.
63		-	B. A dentist holding a valid dental license in Oklahoma may
64		-	consult, diagnose and treat a patient of record via synchronous or
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66		-	ENGR. H. B. NO. 2899 Page 2 1
	69	+	HB2899 HFLR Page 2
	70	+	BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1
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	95	+	patient that is physically located in this state shall hold a valid
	96	+	Oklahoma state dental license.
	97	+	B. A dentist holding a valid d ental license in Oklahoma may
	98	+	consult, diagnose and treat a patient of record via synchronous or
91	99		asynchronous telecommunication between the patient and dentist. The
92	100		dentist must record all activities relating to teledentistry in the
93	101		patient record and must have an office location in Oklahoma
94	102		available for follow -up treatment and maintenance of records in
95	103		Oklahoma or adjacent to Oklahoma and within fifty (50) miles of an
96	104		Oklahoma border of a state with an interstate dental and dental
97	105		hygienist compact.
98	106		SECTION 2. AMENDATORY 63 O.S. 2021, Section 1 -2711, is
99	107		amended to read as follows:
100	108		Section 1-2711. A. The Legislature recognizes that there is a
101	109		need to:
102	110		1. Upgrade the availability of quality dental care services for
103	111		the people of Oklahoma;
104	112		2. Improve the balance of dental manpower distribution in the
105	113		state by geographic location; and
106	114		3. Increase access to dental care to those who are dependent on
107	115		the state for necessary dental care ;
108	116		4. Allow providers to work at the top of thei r license and
109	117		utilize supporting roles; and
110	118		5. Address the need for dental f aculty.
111		-	B. The purpose of the Oklahoma Dental Loan Repayment Act shall
112		-	be to:
113		-	1. Increase the number of dentists servin g and caring for those
114		-	dependent upon the state for dental care; and
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116		-	ENGR. H. B. NO. 2899 Page 3 1
	120	+	HB2899 HFLR Page 3
	121	+	BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1
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	146	+	B. The purpose of the Oklahoma Dental Loan Repayment Act shall
	147	+	be to:
	148	+	1. Increase the number of dentists serving and caring for those
	149	+	dependent upon the state for dental care; and
141	150		2. Ensure that dental care and services are accessible
142	151		throughout the state, and specifically, that quality dental care and
143	152		services be accessible to underserved dental areas in rural and
144	153		metropolitan areas of the state, and to those dependent upon the
145	154		state for dental care.
146	155		SECTION 3. AMENDATORY 63 O.S. 2021, Section 1 -2712, is
147	156		amended to read as follows:
148	157		Section 1-2712. A. 1. The State Department of Health shall
149	158		administer the Oklahoma Dental Loan Repayment Program.
150	159		2. The Program, depending upon available funding, shall provide
151	160		educational loan repayment assistance for up to a total of twenty-
152		-	five thirty full-time-equivalent Oklahoma-licensed dentists per ~~y ear~~
	161	+	five thirty full-time equivalent Oklahoma licensed dentists per year
153	162		including new and continuing contract renewable partic ipants.
154	163		3. Each award shall be for a contracted period and shall be
155	164		distributed to the participant by drafts made payable to the
156	165		participant for deposit to an appropriate loan agency in equal
157	166		monthly disbursements, not to exceed Fifty Thousand Dollars
158	167		($50,000.00) Sixty Thousand Dollars ($60,000.00) per year for a
159	168		maximum five-year period. Prior to any disbursement, the Department
160	169		shall certify and properly review monthly reports submitted by the
161		-	participating dentist detailing performance of activities in
162		-	accordance with the Oklahoma Dental Loan Repayment Act.
163		-	4. At the conclusion of the minimum service obligation, the
164		-	Department shall review the performance in the Program of the
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166		-	ENGR. H. B. NO. 2899 Page 4 1
	171	+	HB2899 HFLR Page 4
	172	+	BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1
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	197	+	participating dentist detailing performance of activities i n
	198	+	accordance with the Oklahoma Dental Loan Repayment Act.
	199	+	4. At the conclusion of the minimum service obligation, the
	200	+	Department shall review the performance in the Program of the
191	201		participating dentist and determine whether an award may be granted
192	202		for an additional period not to exceed a total participation in the
193	203		Program of five (5) years pursuant to rules promulgated by the
194	204		Department.
195	205		B. Any dentist entering the Program each year as a nonfaculty
196	206		participant shall agree to provide dental care and servic es to
197	207		Medicaid recipients as authorized by the Oklahoma Health Care
198	208		Authority. The Department shall be responsible for ensuring that at
199	209		least thirty percent (30%) of the patients treated by the dentist
200	210		will be Medicaid recipients.
201	211		1. Any general practice dentist entering the Program each year
202	212		as a nonfaculty participant shall agr ee to provide dental care and
203	213		services in a designated Dental Health Professional Shortage Area
204	214		(DHPSA) of this state.
205	215		2. Any dentist licensed to practice as a Pediatric Dentistr y
206	216		Specialist as defined by the State Dental Act or any dentist
207	217		practicing in a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), FQHC look -
208	218		alike, county health department , Oklahoma Board of Dentistry -
209		-	registered dental facilit y, or city-county health department may be
210		-	exempt from the requirement to practice in a Dental Health
211		-	Professional Shortage Area (DHPSA).
212		-	C. A dentist entering the Program as a faculty participant
213		-	shall agree to teach at the University of Oklahoma College of
	219	+	registered dental facilities, or city-county health department may
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215		-	ENGR. H. B. NO. 2899 Page 5 1
	221	+	HB2899 HFLR Page 5
	222	+	BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1
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	247	+	be exempt from the requirement to practice in a Dental Health
	248	+	Professional Shortage Area (DHPSA).
	249	+	C. A dentist entering the Program as a faculty participant
	250	+	shall agree to teach at the University of Oklahoma College of
240	251		Dentistry. In the event there a re no appropriate faculty
241	252		applicants, the Program may award additional nonfac ulty dentists.
242	253		D. A dentist shall be eligible to participate in the Program if
243	254		the dentist:
244	255		1. Is a new dental school graduate. Preference will be given
245	256		to graduates of the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry;
246	257		2. Is licensed to practice dentist ry in Oklahoma; and
247	258		3. Has demonstrated financial need.
248	259		E. The dentist shall execute a contract with the Department to
249	260		provide dental services pursuant to the terms of the contr act and in
250	261		accordance with rules promulgated by the Department.
251	262		F. If the dentist does not fulfill the service obligation, the
252	263		Department may collect from the participant the entire amount of
253	264		loan payments made under the Program plus interest.
254	265		G. The Department shall present a report on the operation of
255	266		the Program to the Governo r, the Speaker of the Oklahoma House of
256	267		Representatives, and the President Pro Tempore of the Oklahoma State
257	268		Senate within one (1) month of the beginning of each regular session
258	269		of the Legislature including but not limited to the progress made in
259	270		accomplishing the goal of the Program.
260		-	SECTION 4. This act shall become effective November 1, 2025.
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262		-	ENGR. H. B. NO. 2899 Page 6 1
	272	+	HB2899 HFLR Page 6
	273	+	BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1
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287		-	~~Passed the House of Representatives the 12th day of March~~, 2025.
	298	+	SECTION 4. This act shall become effective November 1, 2025.
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291		-
292		-	Presiding Officer of the House
293		-	of Representatives
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297		-	Passed the Senate the _____ day of __________, 2025.
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302		-	Presiding Officer of the Senate
	300	+	COMMITTEE REPORT BY: COMMITTEE ON RULES, dated 02/25/2025 - DO PASS,
	301	+	As Coauthored.