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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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CONTACT:
Roseann R. Cadau |
State Rep. Eddie
Pashinski |
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Governor signs Senate version of Pashinski’s dental hygienist legislation into law
HARRISBURG, July 20 – State Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski, D-Luzerne, said he is pleased that Gov Ed. Rendell signed legislation today that will expand access to routine dental services for school children and senior citizens in nursing homes in Pennsylvania.
The new law (S.B. 455) will create the position of public health dental hygiene practitioner in Pennsylvania.
The Luzerne County lawmaker is recognized for introducing similar legislation (H.B. 1257) in the House as part of the governor’s and House Democrats’ Prescription for Pennsylvania health-care reform package.
Pashinski has commended the governor for recognizing that dental hygienists are an important part of Pennsylvania’s health-care system and a great resource for helping low-income residents.
“House Democrats have been supporting this proposal from the beginning because it will allow children in schools and senior citizens in nursing homes to be able to get access to dental services when they might not have been able to in the past,” Pashinski said. “A healthy mouth leads to a healthy body.”
Pashinski said he supports the Senate version of his legislation, which was the bill signed by the governor today.
The new law now allows dental hygienists to become certified as public health dental hygiene practitioners. This will allow them to practice without the supervision of a dentist in schools, corrections institutions, nursing homes and other institutions where access to routine dental care is sometimes difficult or expensive.
The new law also allows dental hygienist to take X-rays under the general supervision of a dentist, but a dentist does not need to be physically present.
Other key pieces of legislation the governor signed today expand the scope of practice for certified nurse practitioners, certified physician assistants and nurse midwives so they can provide health-care services to the full extent of their education and training.
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