PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 1636, 3386 PRINTER'S NO. 4002
No. 1394 Session of 1999
INTRODUCED BY BLAUM, CIVERA, GEORGE, SCHRODER, HALUSKA, TIGUE, YOUNGBLOOD, HASAY, WALKO, E. Z. TAYLOR, TRELLO, STABACK, MELIO, MUNDY, HARHAI, YUDICHAK, BELARDI, VEON AND SAYLOR, APRIL 26, 1999
AS AMENDED ON THIRD CONSIDERATION, HOUSE OR REPRESENTATIVES, OCTOBER 2, 2000
AN ACT 1 Amending the act of May 1, 1933 (P.L.216, No.76), entitled "An 2 act relating to dentistry; defining and providing for the 3 licensing and registration of dentists and dental hygienists, 4 and for the revocation and suspension of such licenses and 5 registrations, subject to appeal, and for their 6 reinstatement; defining the powers and duties of the State 7 Dental Council and Examining Board and the Department of 8 Public Instruction; providing penalties; and repealing 9 existing laws," PROVIDING FOR FUNCTIONS OF THE COMMISSIONER <-- 10 OF PROFESSIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL AFFAIRS; AND further 11 providing for anesthesia. 12 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 13 hereby enacts as follows: 14 Section 1. Section 11.2 of the act of May 1, 1933 (P.L.216, <-- 15 No.76), known as The Dental Law, added December 20, 1985 16 (P.L.513, No.118), is amended to read: 17 SECTION 1. THE ACT OF MAY 1, 1933 (P.L.216, NO.76), KNOWN AS <-- 18 THE DENTAL LAW, IS AMENDED BY ADDING A SECTION TO READ: 19 SECTION 3.2. COMMISSIONER OF PROFESSIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL 20 AFFAIRS.--THIRTY (30) DAYS AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS 21 SECTION AND EVERY THIRTY (30) DAYS THEREAFTER, THE COMMISSIONER
1 OF PROFESSIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL AFFAIRS SHALL SUBMIT A WRITTEN 2 REPORT ON THE STATUS OF REGULATIONS REQUIRED UNDER SECTION 11.2 3 TO THE CONSUMER PROTECTION AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE COMMITTEE 4 OF THE SENATE AND TO THE PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE COMMITTEE OF THE 5 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. 6 SECTION 2. SECTION 11.2 OF THE ACT, ADDED DECEMBER 20, 1985 7 (P.L.513, NO.118), IS AMENDED TO READ: 8 Section 11.2. Anesthesia.--(a) [Prior to January 1, 1987, 9 the] The board shall promulgate regulations which: 10 (1) Establish minimal training and education or 11 certification for the issuance of permits to dentists to 12 administer general anesthesia on an outpatient basis. Such 13 regulations shall include a requirement of a minimum of one year 14 in an approved program of advanced training in anesthesiology 15 and related academic subjects, beyond the undergraduate dental 16 school level. 17 (2) Establish further requirements relating to the use of 18 general anesthesia, including, but not limited to, the 19 collection of permit fees, temporary permit fees, [the 20 collection of biennial license and license] biennial renewal 21 fees, office inspection fees, clinical evaluation fees, 22 equipment standards and the conducting of workplace inspections. 23 (3) Establish minimal training and education for the 24 issuance of permits to dentists to administer conscious sedation 25 on an outpatient basis. Such regulations shall include a minimum 26 period of time of didactic instruction and clinical experience 27 in an accredited educational institution or program. 28 (4) Establish further requirements relating to the use of 29 conscious sedation, including, but not limited to, the 30 collection of permit fees, temporary permit fees, [the 19990H1394B4002 - 2 -
1 collection of biennial license and license] biennial renewal 2 fees, office inspection fees, clinical evaluation fees, 3 equipment standards and the [conduct] conducting of workplace 4 inspections. 5 (5) Establish minimal training and education for the 6 issuance of permits to dentists to administer nitrous 7 oxide/oxygen analgesia on an outpatient basis. Such regulations 8 shall include a minimum period of time of didactic instruction 9 or clinical experience in an accredited educational institution 10 or program. 11 (6) Establish further requirements relating to the use of 12 nitrous oxide/oxygen analgesia, including, but not limited to, 13 the collection of permit fees, [the collection of biennial 14 licenses and license] temporary permit fees, biennial renewal 15 fees, equipment standards and the conduct of workplace 16 inspections. 17 [(7) Establish fees for temporary permits which permits may 18 be issued by the board for one year to a person whose 19 application indicates that he possesses the necessary 20 qualifications pending a complete processing of the 21 application.] 22 (b) [The board may issue the appropriate permits in 23 accordance with this section to a dentist who has been 24 administering general anesthesia, conscious sedation agents or 25 nitrous oxide or oxygen analgesia if the dentist submits 26 evidence satisfactory to the board that he has been 27 administering these agents for a period of at least five years 28 prior to the effective date of this section and that the dentist 29 has applied within one year of the effective date of the 30 regulations.] 19990H1394B4002 - 3 -
1 (1) Beginning April 1, 2003, prior to issuing initial 2 permits to administer general anesthesia or conscious sedation, 3 the board shall require permit applicants to satisfactorily 4 undergo clinical evaluations and office inspections. The board 5 may contract with dental organizations or individuals expert in 6 dental outpatient anesthesia to perform such office inspections 7 and clinical evaluations. A written report of the results of all 8 inspections and evaluations shall be provided to the board in a 9 timely manner. If the results of the evaluation or inspection 10 are deemed unsatisfactory, subsequent evaluations or inspections 11 may be conducted, within a reasonable time, upon written request 12 of the applicant. No permit shall be issued until the applicant 13 satisfactorily completes a clinical evaluation and office 14 inspection. 15 (2) Beginning April 1, 2003, prior to issuing initial 16 permits to administer nitrous oxide/oxygen analgesia, the board 17 shall require permit applicants to provide the make, model and 18 serial number of any nitrous oxide/oxygen analgesia equipment 19 utilized by the applicant, and certification that the equipment 20 is in proper working order. Thereafter, such permit holders 21 shall provide evidence to the board that their equipment is 22 properly calibrated, at least once every six years. 23 (3) The board shall adopt by regulation those guidelines, 24 standards and procedures necessary to perform clinical 25 evaluations and office inspections. Such guidelines, standards 26 and procedures shall include, but not be limited to, the 27 requirement that equipment be maintained in good working order 28 and in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications. The 29 standards for equipment shall be updated periodically. ALL STAFF <-- 30 ASSISTING IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF ANESTHESIA SHALL MAINTAIN A 19990H1394B4002 - 4 -
1 CURRENT CERTIFICATION TO ADMINISTER CARDIOPULMONARY 2 RESUSCITATION (CPR). 3 (4) Permit holders who travel to office locations other than 4 their own to administer anesthesia shall ensure that the office 5 location has the equipment required by board regulation, and 6 that the staff is properly trained to handle anesthesia-related 7 emergencies. 8 (5) A licensee who does not possess a permit issued pursuant 9 to this section shall not allow general anesthesia, conscious 10 sedation or nitrous oxide/oxygen analgesia to be administered on 11 an outpatient basis in his or her dental office unless the 12 office is in compliance with board regulations, including those 13 regulations pertaining to equipment requirements and staffed 14 with a supervised team of auxiliary personnel capable of 15 appropriately managing procedures and emergencies incident to 16 the administration of anesthesia. 17 (6) As a condition of permit renewal for the biennial 18 renewal period beginning April 1, 2003, permit holders for the 19 administration of general anesthesia and conscious sedation 20 shall have satisfactorily undergone a clinical evaluation and 21 office inspection pursuant to this section. The board may waive 22 this requirement for permit holders who can demonstrate to the 23 board's satisfaction that he or she has satisfactorily undergone 24 a clinical evaluation, administered by a dental organization 25 acceptable to the board, within the six years immediately 26 preceding the effective date of this clause. Thereafter, permit 27 holders shall satisfactorily undergo clinical evaluations and 28 office inspections at least once every six years. 29 (c) Beginning on April 1, 2003, the board may issue 30 temporary permits to administer general anesthesia, conscious 19990H1394B4002 - 5 -
1 sedation or nitrous oxide/oxygen analgesia, which shall be valid 2 for one year, to individuals whose application indicates that he 3 or she possesses the necessary qualifications pending a complete 4 processing of the application. Temporary permits shall not be 5 subject to renewal. 6 (d) As a condition of permit renewal for the biennial 7 renewal period beginning April 1, 2003, and all renewal periods 8 thereafter, general anesthesia permit holders shall have 9 completed fifteen hours of board-approved courses of study 10 related to general anesthesia and conscious sedation permit 11 holders shall have completed fifteen hours of board-approved 12 courses of study related to conscious sedation. Licensees who 13 are not permit holders, but who maintain offices in which 14 general anesthesia or conscious sedation is administered, shall 15 have completed five hours of board-approved courses of study 16 related to anesthesia. Continuing anesthesia education shall be 17 credited toward a permit holder's or licensee's continuing 18 education requirement under section 3(j.2) of this act. 19 (e) Permit holders shall conduct a physical evaluation and 20 take a medical history of a patient prior to the administration 21 of general anesthesia, conscious sedation or nitrous 22 oxide/oxygen analgesia, and maintain records of the physical 23 evaluation, medical history and anesthesia procedures utilized. 24 (f) Permit holders shall obtain the written informed consent 25 of a patient prior to the administration of general anesthesia, 26 conscious sedation or nitrous oxide/oxygen analgesia. The 27 consent shall include, but not be limited to, a description of 28 the procedure, its risks and possible alternative treatments. In 29 the case of a minor patient, the consent shall be obtained from 30 the minor's parent or guardian. 19990H1394B4002 - 6 -
1 (g) Noncompliance with any of the provisions of this section 2 shall be considered a violation of this act. 3 (h) The board shall promulgate the regulations required by 4 this section within one year of the effective date of this 5 subsection. 6 Section 2 3. This act shall take effect in 30 days. <-- C25L63JAM/19990H1394B4002 - 7 -