H.R. 10751: Tribal Oral Health Sovereignty Act

This bill would change how dental therapist services can be provided in tribal health settings under the Indian Health Care Improvement Act.

What it does

The bill would:

• Prohibit the federal government from reducing funding for the Community Health Aide Program when creating or expanding a national program.
• Remove a current restriction that limits how dental therapist services can be provided under the Community Health Aide Program.
• Allow a person certified as a dental therapist by the Community Health Aide Certification Board, or by an Indian tribe with certification standards that meet or exceed that Board’s standards, to provide dental therapist services in an Indian health program.
• Make clear that these services can be provided even if state law would otherwise restrict licensure, certification, registration, or scope of practice for dental providers.
• Require that dental therapist services be delivered according to the certifying body’s standards, including rules on training, supervision, scope of practice, and continuing education, as well as other requirements already in the law.

Practical effect

In plain terms, the bill would give tribes and federal tribal health programs more authority to use certified dental therapists to provide dental care in Indian health programs, without having to follow conflicting state licensing or scope-of-practice rules. It would also protect existing Community Health Aide Program funding from being reduced as part of this change.

Relevant Companies

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