By Donna Domino, Features Editor
December 28, 2012 -- Dental service organizations (DSOs) in Texas would be subject to greater oversight under a bill being introduced by a Texas legislator who accused the groups of "outrageous actions" involving unnecessary pediatric procedures.
SB 151 is designed to "strengthen the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners' ability to ensure that dental treatment is directed solely by licensed dentists, not by corporate entities." The measure would also require DSOs to register with the board and prohibits them from "interfering with dentists' treatment decisions."
“These types of entities have been involved in some of the illegal and, quite candidly, outrageous actions.”
— Sen. Jane Nelson
The bill was prefiled on December 21 by Sen. Jane Nelson (R-Flower Mound) in advance of the 83rd Regular Session of the Texas Legislature, which reconvenes on January 8. It would require DSOs to register with the state dental board, and it also would allow the dental board to impose administrative penalties and disciplinary actions against DSOs that violate the Texas Dental Practice Act. Similar to in many states, the law states that only licensed dentists can own and operate dental clinics.
Currently, DSOs in Texas are not subject to any state regulation, Nelson noted.
"We need to ensure that these organizations are accountable to the board and, more importantly, that they are not substituting their judgment for that of our trained, licensed dentists," Nelson said in a statement.
Read the entire story at Dr. Bicuspid
Related:
Dental Patient Protection SB 151
Dental Patient Protection: SB 151 strengthens the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners' ability to ensure that dental treatment is directed solely by licensed dentists, not by corporate entities. It requires dental service organizations (DSOs) to register with the Board and prohibits them from interfering with dentists' treatment decisions. It also allows the Board to impose administrative penalties and take disciplinary action against a DSO found in violation of the Texas Dental Practice Act. Before performing dental treatment on a child, SB 151 requires that a dentist inform the child's parent or guardian that they have the option to be present in the treatment room, and it prohibits a dentist from performing the dental treatment or procedure without the parent or guardian present if they desire to be in the treatment room. Currently, DSOs are not subject to any state regulation. "We need to ensure that these organizations are accountable to the Board and, more importantly, that they are not substituting their judgment for that of our trained, licensed dentists. No child should undergo complicated, painful procedures without a parent being involved at every point in the process. These types of entities have been involved in some of the illegal and, quite candidly, outrageous actions involving the enticement of children to undergo costly and oftentimes unnecessary procedures at the taxpayer's expense."
Senator Jane Nelson
P.O. Box 12068, State Capitol
Austin, Texas 78711
Tel. (512) 463-0112
Fax (512) 463-0923