Dental Practice Act

​

Purpose?     Keep dentists as the owners & control clinic, operationally & ethically

But?     DSOs are employing dentists while retaining their name as a figurehead. Multiple reports of unethical practices in these corporate chains have been made to the state board (eg chart changes for unnecessary & expensive Tx). Furthermore, dentists with student debt may enter a situation where they must make the choice between employment & ethics.

 

*Note: The state board cannot independently investigate DSOs. According to the state, the state board will only have jurisdiction to investigate a DSO if a complaint has been sent. Therefore it is our responsibility to keep any unethical practices in check!

​

So?    We are prepared to work with DSOs to create a clinic environment that will be operationally and ethically under dental control to avoid future complaints. Additionally, the ADA provides free legal services to catch troublesome clauses in contracts (eg non-compete clause)

 

​

​

​

Funding

Purpose?    Schools serve underprivileged populations in return for learning opportunity under clinician supervision

Problem?    State clinic funding for all TX dental schools is not tied to a formula, so they have a wide range of funding and—on average—lose $45/visit

So?    We are introducing a formula based on a rolling 2-yr avg #visits for $45/visit into 85th TX Legislature

​

​

​

​

​

New Dental School in El Paso

Purpose?    Redistribution of dentists state-wide

But?    Annually, there are 800-1000 new dentists entering—300 in state & 500-700 out—and competing for limited positions due to the economy and retirement age increases. This drives graduating dentists into potentially dangerous contracts with DSOs in order to pay of student debt as much as possible

Alternative?   Dental Loan Repayment Programs (see below)

 

​

​

​

​

Dental Loan Repayment Programs

Purpose?    To incentivize dentists to practice in underserved areas of TX; history has proven these programs work & fully address the severe distribution issue in oral healthcare

So?    This session, we want to reinstate funding for the DELRP & CMLRP programs that have both been authorized in statute but funding was ultimately eliminated due to budget shortfalls

 

​

​

​

Anesthesia

Problem?    Expanded application of anesthesia by dental hygienists with a 100+ hours less training than dentists is a major concern, considering the multiple lethal incidents in recent years that led to the creation of the Sunset Committee. We are one of 6 states remaining that restrict anesthesia to dentists.

But?    DSOs & insurance companies are lobbying behind hygienists for this bill due to the higher employment expense of hiring a dentist

​

​

​

​

Sunset Review

Purpose?    To ensure each committee in the TX House & Senate fulfills a purpose (every 12 years)

Why?    85th Legislature passed the Sunset Commission Report with a few changes:

 

​

​

​

Tuition increases:

TAMCOD fees have risen to nearly $28,000 by an inflation-based rate of 2.2% & UTSA and UT Houston will be increasing tuition by 2.13% next year as well

​

(https://www.texastribune.org/2015/11/12/tuition-going-m-system-schools/;http://www.expressnews.com/news/education/article/UTSA-UT-Health-Science-Center-seek-tuition-5475647.php)