Ohio House, Senate consider bills to expand dental access to underserved

Both the Ohio House and Senate are considering bills aimed at expanding access to dental care in Ohio, especially in rural parts of the state (Source: “Legislation would make dental care more accessible for under-served Ohioans,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, April 16, 2014).

Senate Bill 327 and House Bill 463 would allow more dental assistants to work under the supervision of a single dentist and allow assistants to provide services when the dentist is not in the office. The bills also include making dental students eligible for more state-sponsored scholarships and increasing dental licence fees to pay for an increase in funds to the Ohio Dental Loan Repayment program for dentist who work in rural and under-served parts of the state.

"There have been 84 parts of our state identified as 'Dental Shortage Areas,' making it difficult for Ohioans in those regions to have access to quality dental services we know are so important to overall health," said Sen. Joe Uecker, a Miami Township Republican, who sponsored the Senate bill. "What we are doing through this bill is to streamline access to dental care by addressing multiple barriers that result in the current shortage."

Rep. Terry Johnson, a McDermott Republican and physician, sponsored the House version.