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HB 7837

AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- DENTISTS AND DENTAL HYGIENISTS

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Justine Caldwell and 1 co-sponsor

Public-health dental hygienists can perform certain delegated procedures without immediate dentist supervision in approved settings, with consent and collaborative oversight, and M

06/10/2026 Signed by Governor
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Bill Summary · HB 7837

Legislative Bill Summary – Rhode Island HB 7837 (2026)

Title

AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- DENTISTS AND DENTAL HYGIENISTS

Purpose and Intent

  • To modify rules governing public-health dental hygienists, allowing them to perform certain dental-hygiene procedures in public-health settings without direct supervision by a dentist, provided specific conditions and approvals are met.
  • To clarify reimbursement rules for public-health dental hygiene services, enabling reimbursement from Medicaid or other state-supported programs, and potentially from other third-party payors in certain settings.

Key Provisions

  1. Expanded Practice in Public-Health Settings (Section 5-31.1-39)

    • Public-health dental hygienists (registered dental hygienists working in public health) may perform procedures within their hygiene scope that are designated as delegable for general supervision in private practice, but only in public-health settings and under conditions approved by the Rhode Island Board of Examiners in Dentistry.
    • Settings covered include: residences for homebound individuals, schools, nursing homes and long-term care facilities, clinics, hospitals, community health centers, mobile/portable programs, head-start programs, and other department of health-approved facilities or programs.
    • A public-health hygienist must operate under a written, collaborative agreement with a licensed dentist or appropriate government agency/institution, ensuring appropriate communication and patient safety prior to performing any delegated procedure.
    • The written agreement must align with guidelines established by the Rhode Island Board of Examiners in Dentistry.

  2. Patient Consent and Disclosure (Section 5-31.1-39)

    • Hygienists must provide a consent form to patients or their legal guardians describing the services to be rendered and explaining that these services are not a substitute for a dentist’s examination.
    • The consent form must inform patients that they should obtain a dental examination within 90 days after the procedure and obtain a written referral to a dentist and an assessment of further dental needs.

  3. Reimbursement and Financial Arrangements (Section 5-31.1-39)

    • Public-health dental hygienists shall be reimbursed directly for services provided in public-health settings by Medicaid or the state health insurance program, consistent with federal Medicaid requirements.
    • Reimbursement from other insurance or third-party payors is not allowed for these hygienists in public-health settings, except in mobile/portable programs operated by licensed agencies; those programs may seek reimbursement from other third-party payors.
    • Hygienists may not operate independently of a dentist, with the exception of:
      • Hygienists employed by a local/state government agency or institution, or those working in licensed mobile/portable programs, where reimbursement may be pursued from other third-party payors.

  4. Effective Date (Section 2)

    • The act takes effect upon passage.

Who Is Affected

  • Public-health dental hygienists practicing in Rhode Island.
  • Dentists who supervise or collaborate with public-health hygienists.
  • Public-health settings (schools, clinics, nursing facilities, home health visits, mobile programs, etc.) that employ or deploy hygienists.
  • Patients receiving dental-hygiene services in public-health settings.
  • Public health agencies and institutions involved in delivering dental hygiene services.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Introduced: February 27, 2026, sponsored by Rep. Caldwell and Rep. Kislak.
  • Referred to: House Corporations (Department of Executive Office of Health and Human Services noted in the bill).
  • Committee action: As of April 14, 2026, the committee recommended the measure be held for further study.
  • Effective date: Upon passage (no specific retroactive or phased-in date).

Notable Details

  • The bill aligns with providing greater flexibility for public-health settings to deliver preventive dental care, while maintaining patient safety through collaborative agreements and informed consent.
  • Reimbursement changes are limited to Medicaid and the state health care program, with more limited allowances for other third-party payors, except in mobile/portable programs operated by government-approved providers.

Summary

HB 7837 would permit public-health dental hygienists to perform certain delegable hygienist procedures without immediate dentist supervision in public-health settings, given written collaborative agreements and patient consent, and under Board-approved guidelines. It also clarifies reimbursement pathways, enabling direct Medicaid/state program reimbursement for these services, with restrictions on other third-party payors except in specific mobile/portable program contexts. The act emphasizes collaboration, patient awareness, and safety, while expanding access to preventive dental care in community settings.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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