Last week the Interim Therapeutic Restoration Bill was introduced in the Colorado House of Representatives. The bill, known by the stakeholders as the ITR Bill, has been assigned to the House Health, Insurance and Environment committee and will have its first hearing on April 2, 2015.
The sponsors for the bill are Representative Joann Ginal (D) in the House and Larry Crowder (R) in the Senate. We are grateful to these individuals for recognizing Colorado’s oral health workforce needs and for proposing a bi-partisan solution.
The sponsors for the bill are Representative Joann Ginal (D) in the House and Larry Crowder (R) in the Senate. We are grateful to these individuals for recognizing Colorado’s oral health workforce needs and for proposing a bi-partisan solution.
Why do we need this bill?
The bill allows a dental hygienist to apply to the Colorado Dental Board for a permit to place interim therapeutic restorations (ITRs). As Colorado is working to develop “virtual dental homes” to deploy registered dental hygienists into communities to provide access to care in underserved areas of our state, a key component of this model is providing dental hygienists with tools to address active disease in patients with no/limited access to dental care.
The bill allows a dental hygienist to apply to the Colorado Dental Board for a permit to place interim therapeutic restorations (ITRs). As Colorado is working to develop “virtual dental homes” to deploy registered dental hygienists into communities to provide access to care in underserved areas of our state, a key component of this model is providing dental hygienists with tools to address active disease in patients with no/limited access to dental care.
What does the Bill do?
- Allows a Colorado licensed dental hygienist to place interim therapeutic restorations (when directed to do so by a collaborating dentist);
- Ensures that Medicaid and CHP+ reimburse for these services, even if provided through the use of tele-health;
- Establishes an Advisory Committee to develop uniform standards for training dental hygienists to place ITRs.
- Holds a license in good standing to practice dental hygiene in Colorado;
- Carries professional liability insurance coverage;
- Completes the required hours of dental hygiene practice (2,000 – 4,000 hours); and
- Completes a board-approved course based on uniform standards developed by an ITR advisory committee.
The Bill was developed through a coalition of stakeholders, including the Colorado Dental Association, the Colorado Dental Hygienists Association, SMILES Dental Project, and Colorado’s Oral Health Coalition.
Special recognition and appreciation goes to the Colorado Dental Association, especially Jennifer Goodrum, for doing the yeomen’s work of drafting the bill and convening stakeholders to bring this Bill to fruition!
The SMILES Dental Project team is pleased to see the progress towards making virtual dental homes a reality. It is an exciting time for health care innovations and we are proud of the way Colorado's leaders are joining together in bipartisan support for healthy Coloradans
