REVISED REVISED REVISED REVISED REVISED REVISED REVISED
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
RS26867
Good oral health is a critical component of overall health. Without treatment, dental disease compromises
overall health and leads to rapidly accelerating costs associated with more complicated interventions.
However, most dental disease can be easily preventable through routine care. Idahoans often access
emergency care for dental related issues in hospitals, raising the costs of healthcare for everyone. In order
to address rising healthcare costs and address preventable dental conditions before they become more
serious, other states and countries allow trained mid-level providers to perform routine and preventative
care under the supervision of a dentist. While improving dental health outcomes, such programs have also
improved access to higher career paths as well as improved cultural care. The Coeur d'Alene Tribe operates
Marimn Health, a community health center and Indian health program in Plummer, Idaho. Marimn Health
is open to the entire community and constantly seeks to improve community health outcomes through
patient centered, team based approaches. Adding trained and licensed mid-level providers would fill a
much needed service gap, allowing supervising dentists to focus on more complicated procedures while
mid-level providers focus on routine and preventative procedures, thereby improving efficiencies and
overall care. This legislation authorizes the Idaho Board of Dentistry to license mid-level dental providers
who would be called dental therapists, who have completed education and training requirements prescribed
by the Board, to perform a scope of procedures as set forth by the Board, only under the supervision of
licensed dentists in Idaho. These providers would also be limited to discharging duties on behalf of the
United States, through the Public Health Service, Indian Health Service or for a tribe contracted to perform
such services on behalf of the United States.
FISCAL NOTE
License fees under the Board of Dentistry are designed to cover the cost of administration, so this legislation
does not have any fiscal impact to the General Fund or to any county or other government fund.
Contact:
Senator Lee Heider
(208) 332-1347
Tyrel Stevenson, Legislative Director/Attorney
(208) 686-2065
DISCLAIMER: This statement of purpose and fiscal note are a mere attachment to this bill and prepared by a proponent
of the bill. It is neither intended as an expression of legislative intent nor intended for any use outside of the legislative
process, including judicial review (Joint Rule 18).
Statement of Purpose / Fiscal Note S1129


Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 54-900, 54-903, 54-912, 54-913, 54-915, 54-916, 54-918, 54-920, 54-922, 54-923, 54-924, 54-930, 54-932, 54-935
Engrossment 1: 54-900, 54-903, 54-912, 54-913, 54-915, 54-916, 54-918, 54-920, 54-922, 54-923, 54-924, 54-930, 54-932, 54-935