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                                 SENATE AMENDED
        PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 287, 1068, 4468          PRINTER'S NO. 4567

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA


HOUSE BILL

No. 286 Session of 2001


        INTRODUCED BY BLAUM, GORDNER, DeWEESE, M. COHEN, BELARDI,
           YOUNGBLOOD, HALUSKA, CRUZ, TIGUE, FREEMAN, DAILEY, SURRA,
           STABACK, HORSEY, MUNDY, PRESTON, DeLUCA, McCALL, SHANER,
           WASHINGTON, HARHAI, THOMAS, JAMES, WATERS, SCHULER AND BEBKO-
           JONES, JANUARY 30, 2001

        AS AMENDED ON THIRD CONSIDERATION, IN SENATE, NOVEMBER 12, 2002

                                     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 11.2.  Anesthesia.--(a)  [Prior to January 1, 1987,
    18  the] The board shall [promulgate regulations which:] DO ALL OF    <--
    19  THE FOLLOWING:
    20     (1)  Establish minimal training and education or


     1  certification for the issuance of permits to dentists to
     2  administer general anesthesia on an outpatient basis. [Such       <--
     3  regulations] THE BOARD shall [include a requirement of] REQUIRE   <--
     4  a minimum of one year in an approved program of advanced
     5  training in anesthesiology and related academic subjects, beyond
     6  the undergraduate dental school level.
     7     (2)  Establish further requirements relating to the use of
     8  general anesthesia, including, but not limited to, the
     9  collection of permit fees, temporary permit fees, biennial [the
    10  collection of biennial license and license] renewal fees, office
    11  inspection fees, clinical evaluation fees, equipment standards
    12  and the conducting of workplace inspections.
    13     (3)  Establish minimal training and education for the
    14  issuance of permits to dentists to administer conscious sedation
    15  on an outpatient basis. [Such regulations] THE BOARD shall        <--
    16  [include] REQUIRE a minimum period of time of didactic            <--
    17  instruction and clinical experience in an accredited educational
    18  institution or program.
    19     (4)  Establish further requirements relating to the use of
    20  conscious sedation, including, but not limited to, the
    21  collection of permit fees, temporary permit fees, biennial [the
    22  collection of biennial license and license] renewal fees, office
    23  inspection fees, clinical evaluation fees, equipment standards
    24  and the [conduct] conducting of workplace inspections.
    25     (5)  Establish minimal training and education for the
    26  issuance of permits to dentists to administer nitrous
    27  oxide/oxygen analgesia on an outpatient basis. [Such regulations  <--
    28  shall include] THE BOARD SHALL REQUIRE a minimum period of time   <--
    29  of didactic instruction or clinical experience in an accredited
    30  educational institution or program.
    20010H0286B4567                  - 2 -

     1     (6)  Establish further requirements relating to the use of
     2  nitrous oxide/oxygen analgesia, including, but not limited to,
     3  the collection of permit fees, [the collection of biennial
     4  licenses and license] temporary permit fees, biennial renewal
     5  fees, equipment standards and the conduct of workplace
     6  inspections.
     7     [(7)  Establish fees for temporary permits which permits may
     8  be issued by the board for one year to a person whose
     9  application indicates that he possesses the necessary
    10  qualifications pending a complete processing of the
    11  application.]
    12     (b)  [The board may issue the appropriate permits in
    13  accordance with this section to a dentist who has been
    14  administering general anesthesia, conscious sedation agents or
    15  nitrous oxide or oxygen analgesia if the dentist submits
    16  evidence satisfactory to the board that he has been
    17  administering these agents for a period of at least five years
    18  prior to the effective date of this section and that the dentist
    19  has applied within one year of the effective date of the
    20  regulations.]
    21     (1)  Beginning April 1, 2004, prior to issuing initial
    22  permits to administer general anesthesia, DEEP SEDATION or        <--
    23  conscious sedation, the board shall require permit applicants to
    24  satisfactorily undergo clinical evaluations and office
    25  inspections. The board may contract with dental SCHOOLS,          <--
    26  organizations or individuals expert HAVING EXPERTISE in dental    <--
    27  outpatient anesthesia to perform such THE office inspections and  <--
    28  clinical evaluations. A written report of the results of all
    29  inspections and evaluations shall be provided to the board in a
    30  timely manner. If the results of the evaluation or inspection
    20010H0286B4567                  - 3 -

     1  are deemed unsatisfactory, subsequent evaluations or inspections
     2  may be conducted, within a reasonable time, upon written request
     3  of the applicant. No permit shall be issued until the applicant
     4  satisfactorily completes a clinical evaluation and office
     5  inspection.
     6     (2)  Beginning April 1, 2004, prior to issuing initial
     7  permits to administer nitrous oxide/oxygen analgesia, the board
     8  shall require permit applicants to provide the make, model and
     9  serial number of any nitrous oxide/oxygen analgesia equipment
    10  utilized by the applicant, and certification that the equipment
    11  is in proper working order. Thereafter, such permit holders
    12  shall provide evidence to the board that their equipment is
    13  properly calibrated, at least once every six years.
    14     (3)  The board shall adopt by regulation those guidelines,     <--
    15  ESTABLISH standards and procedures necessary to perform clinical  <--
    16  evaluations and office inspections. Such guidelines, standards    <--
    17  and procedures WHICH shall include, but not be limited to, the    <--
    18  requirement that equipment be maintained in good working order
    19  and in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications. The
    20  standards for equipment shall be updated periodically. All staff
    21  assisting in the administration of anesthesia shall, AT A         <--
    22  MINIMUM, maintain a current certification to administer
    23  cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
    24     (4)  Permit THE BOARD SHALL REQUIRE PERMIT holders who travel  <--
    25  to office locations other than their own to administer
    26  anesthesia shall TO ensure that the office location has the       <--
    27  equipment required by board regulation, THE BOARD and that the    <--
    28  staff is properly trained to handle anesthesia-related
    29  emergencies.
    30     (5)  A THE BOARD SHALL PROHIBIT A licensee who does not        <--
    20010H0286B4567                  - 4 -

     1  possess a permit issued pursuant to this section shall not allow  <--
     2  FROM ALLOWING general anesthesia, DEEP SEDATION, conscious        <--
     3  sedation or nitrous oxide/oxygen analgesia to be administered on
     4  an outpatient basis in his or her dental office unless the
     5  office is in compliance with board regulations, including those   <--
     6  regulations pertaining to equipment requirements and staffed
     7  with a supervised team of auxiliary personnel capable of
     8  appropriately managing procedures and emergencies incident to
     9  the administration of anesthesia. THIS SECTION, INCLUDING THE     <--
    10  REQUIREMENTS PERTAINING TO EQUIPMENT AND STAFFING.
    11     (6)  As a condition of permit renewal for the biennial
    12  renewal period beginning April 1, 2005, THE BOARD SHALL REQUIRE   <--
    13  permit holders for the administration of general anesthesia,      <--
    14  DEEP SEDATION and conscious sedation shall TO have                <--
    15  satisfactorily undergone a clinical evaluation and office
    16  inspection pursuant to this section. The board may waive this
    17  requirement for permit holders who can demonstrate to the
    18  board's satisfaction that he or she has satisfactorily undergone
    19  a clinical evaluation, administered by a dental AN organization   <--
    20  acceptable to the board, within the six years immediately
    21  preceding the effective date of this clause. Thereafter, permit
    22  holders shall satisfactorily undergo clinical evaluations and
    23  office inspections at least once every six years.
    24     (c)  Beginning on April 1, 2004, the board may issue
    25  temporary permits to administer general anesthesia, DEEP          <--
    26  SEDATION, conscious sedation or nitrous oxide/oxygen analgesia,
    27  which shall be valid for one year, to individuals whose
    28  application indicates that he or she possesses the necessary
    29  qualifications pending a complete processing of the application.
    30  Temporary permits shall not be subject to renewal.
    20010H0286B4567                  - 5 -

     1     (d)  As a condition of permit renewal for the biennial
     2  renewal period beginning April 1, 2005, and all renewal periods
     3  thereafter, THE BOARD SHALL REQUIRE general anesthesia AND DEEP   <--
     4  SEDATION permit holders shall TO have completed fifteen hours of  <--
     5  board-approved courses of study related to general anesthesia
     6  and DEEP SEDATION, AND REQUIRE conscious sedation permit holders  <--
     7  shall TO have completed fifteen hours of board-approved courses   <--
     8  of study related to conscious sedation. Licensees who are not
     9  permit holders, but who maintain offices in which general
    10  anesthesia, DEEP SEDATION or conscious sedation is administered,  <--
    11  shall have completed five hours of board-approved courses of
    12  study related to anesthesia. Continuing anesthesia education
    13  shall be credited toward a permit holder's or licensee's
    14  continuing education requirement under section 3(j.2) of this
    15  act.
    16     (e)  Permit holders shall THE BOARD SHALL REQUIRE PERMIT       <--
    17  HOLDERS TO conduct a physical evaluation and take a medical
    18  history of a patient prior to the administration of general
    19  anesthesia, DEEP SEDATION, conscious sedation or nitrous          <--
    20  oxide/oxygen analgesia, and maintain records of the physical
    21  evaluation, medical history and anesthesia procedures utilized.
    22     (f)  Permit holders shall THE BOARD SHALL REQUIRE PERMIT       <--
    23  HOLDERS TO obtain the written informed consent of a patient
    24  prior to the administration of general anesthesia, DEEP           <--
    25  SEDATION, conscious sedation or nitrous oxide/oxygen analgesia.
    26  The consent shall include, but not be limited to, a description
    27  of the procedure, its risks and possible alternative treatments.
    28  In the case of a minor patient, the consent shall be obtained
    29  from the minor's parent or guardian.
    30     (g)  Noncompliance with any of the provisions of this section  <--
    20010H0286B4567                  - 6 -

     1  shall be considered a violation of this act.
     2     (h)  The board shall promulgate the regulations required by
     3  this section within one year of the effective date of this
     4  subsection. Thirty (30) days after the effective date of this
     5  subsection and every thirty (30) days thereafter, the
     6  Commissioner of Professional and Occupational Affairs shall
     7  submit a written report on the status of regulations required
     8  under this subsection to the Consumer Protection and
     9  Professional Licensure Committee of the Senate and to the
    10  Professional Licensure Committee of the House of
    11  Representatives.
    12     Section 2.  This act shall take effect in 30 days.
    13     SECTION 2.  THE STATE DENTAL COUNCIL AND EXAMINATION BOARD     <--
    14  SHALL PROMULGATE REGULATIONS NECESSARY TO ADMINISTER THIS ACT
    15  WITHIN ONE YEAR OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION.
    16     SECTION 3.  THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IN 30 DAYS.










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