AUSTIN – Director of the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s (TPPF) Center for Health Care Policy John Davidson testified today before the Texas House Public Health Committee on House Bill 1940, which would create licensed Dental Hygiene Practitioners. These midlevel dental providers would work under the direct supervision of a dentist and provide routine, preventative and restorative care.
“Texas has a problem with access to dental care,” said Davidson. “In too many areas of our state it’s too difficult to find affordable dental care. The cost of these access problems show up in our emergency rooms and hospitals, where dental-related illnesses cost Texas taxpayers millions every year.
“The future of medicine is in team-based care, and HB 1940 would bring us a step closer to team-based dental care in Texas by creating dental hygiene practitioners. These providers would be able to do more than a dental hygienist and provide care in numerous outpatient settings but would work directly under a dentist. This model, already in use in several states, enables dentists to expand their practices while lowering the per-unit costs of care.”
More information about the hearing can be found at: http://txpo.li/1yaAcFZ
To schedule an interview with Mr. Davidson please contact Caroline Espinosa at [email protected] or 512-472-2700.
John Davidson is the Director of the Center for Health Care Policy at the Texas Public Policy Foundation.
The Texas Public Policy Foundation is a non-profit, free-market research institute based in Austin, Texas.