Maine § 18377. - Dental therapist

(1) The services and procedures and the practice settings for those services and procedures that the dental therapist may provide, together with any limitations on those services and procedures;  

(2) Any age-specific and procedure-specific practice protocols, including case selection criteria, assessment guidelines and imaging frequency;  

(3) Procedures to be used with patients treated by the dental therapist for obtaining informed consent and for creating and maintaining dental records;  

(4) A plan for review of patient records by the supervising dentist and the dental therapist;  

(5) A plan for managing medical emergencies in each practice setting in which the dental therapist provides care;  

(6) A quality assurance plan for monitoring care, including patient care review, referral follow-up and a quality assurance chart review;  

(7) Protocols for administering and dispensing medications, including the specific circumstances under which medications may be administered and dispensed;  

(8) Criteria for providing care to patients with specific medical conditions or complex medical histories, including requirements for consultation prior to initiating care; and  

(9) Specific written protocols, including a plan for providing clinical resources and referrals, governing situations in which the patient requires treatment that exceeds the scope of practice or capabilities of the dental therapist.   [PL 2019, c. 388, §10 (AMD).]

D. Revisions to a written practice agreement must be documented in a new written practice agreement signed by the supervising dentist and the dental therapist.   [PL 2019, c. 388, §10 (AMD).]

E. A dental therapist shall file a copy of a written practice agreement with the board, keep a copy for the dental therapist's own records and make a copy available to patients of the dental therapist upon request.   [PL 2019, c. 388, §10 (AMD).]

F. A dental therapist shall refer patients in accordance with a written practice agreement to another qualified dental or health care professional to receive needed services that exceed the scope of practice of the dental therapist.   [PL 2019, c. 388, §10 (AMD).]

G. A dental therapist who provides services or procedures beyond those authorized in a written agreement engages in unprofessional conduct and is subject to discipline pursuant to section 18325.   [PL 2019, c. 388, §10 (AMD).]

4.  Dental coverage and reimbursement.  Notwithstanding Title 24‑A, section 2752, any service performed by a dentist, dental assistant or dental hygienist licensed in this State that is reimbursed by private insurance, a dental service corporation, the MaineCare program under Title 22 or the Children's Health Insurance Program under Title 22, section 3174‑T must also be covered and reimbursed when performed by a dental therapist authorized to practice under this chapter.