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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2019 - 2020
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | September 23, 2019 01:08 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Thomas P. Murt |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Teledentistry |
| Accessibility to oral care is essential to leading a healthy and productive life. Many of our constituents experience difficulties in obtaining proper and adequate dental care, due to a multitude of factors including, but not limited to; geographic location, insurance coverage, and shortages of dental health professionals such as dentists, dental assistants, dental hygienists, etc. This legislation would administer the regulatory oversight of teledentistry by the respective professional licensure boards and would establish insurance coverage for these services. Teledentistry would provide patients with the opportunity to discuss their oral health directly with a dentist and/or dental hygienist through a secure connection. This communication is necessary to determine a course of action for treatment and maintaining good oral health. These consultations would be documented and recorded for review in “real time.” The remote monitoring of patients would provide a patient-centered and cost-effective approach for the benefit of all parties involved. Teledentistry establishes a highly-developed technological service for individuals residing in rural or medically underserved areas in our Commonwealth. In addition, it would assist individuals with special needs and senior citizens to consult with their dentist in a location that is most convenient for them. There are at least 19 states that have already developed policies related to teledentistry. With this legislation, Pennsylvanians will be able to access critical information about their oral health and speak directly to a dental professional. Please consider cosponsoring this legislation to enact teledentistry in Pennsylvania. |
Introduced as HB2645