2017 legislative report

AzDA restored adult dental coverage and delivered major regulatory reform

During the 2017 legislative session, AzDA helped permanently restore emergency dental coverage for adult AHCCCS members, secured substantial Dental Board reforms and fee relief, and continued shaping proposals affecting access to care and the dental workforce.

AHCCCS dental coverage Regulatory reform License fee relief Workforce policy
$1,000 annual adult AHCCCS emergency dental benefit restored
3 years of Dental Board renewal fees waived
$90 reduction in the dentist renewal fee
4 major oral health policy matters addressed
Featured access-to-care win

The 2017 state budget restored an adult emergency dental benefit with a broader range of covered treatment options and an annual benefit cap of $1,000. Coverage became effective on October 1.

Permanent restoration Root canal coverage Prefabricated crowns Emergency extractions
Access to care

Restoring and expanding AHCCCS dental benefits

AzDA worked to restore adult emergency dental services and continued to advocate for dental coverage during pregnancy.

1 benefit restored
State budget

Adult AHCCCS emergency dental benefit

Permanently restored
Patient and practice impact

Adult AHCCCS members regained access to emergency dental services, while participating dentists could provide a broader range of covered treatments.

  • Provides an annual dental benefit of up to $1,000.
  • Includes root canal therapy on all teeth when clinically appropriate.
  • Covers prefabricated crowns and extractions.
  • Took effect on October 1, 2017.
Legislative proposal

AHCCCS dental coverage for pregnant mothers

Advanced in committee
Proposed impact

The legislation sought to extend dental coverage to pregnant AHCCCS members and to improve access to oral healthcare during pregnancy.

The proposal passed the House Health Committee unanimously but did not receive consideration in the Appropriations Committee. AzDA is committed to continuing the effort in the following legislative session.

Progress made

Unanimous committee approval demonstrated broad support for the policy even though funding was not secured in 2017.

Regulatory reform

Modernizing Dental Board rules and reducing fees

SB1362 combined scope-of-practice, licensing, examination, teledentistry, and fee reforms into a broad Dental Board modernization package.

Signed into law
SB1362

Dental Board modernization and license fee relief

Signed into law
Practice impact

The AzDA- and ADHA-supported measure updated clinical practice rules, reduced barriers to Arizona licensure, and used the Dental Board's substantial fund balance to lower or waive renewal fees.

Affiliated practice hygiene

Clarified that an affiliated practice dental hygienist may initiate treatment within the authorized scope under a written agreement with a dentist.

Clinical assessment

Defined assessment as the collection of clinical information to support a dentist's examination, diagnosis, and treatment plan.

Interim restorations

Allowed a hygienist who completes a Board-approved course to perform interim therapeutic restorations without completing the full EFDA pathway.

Teledentistry

Expanded the statutory definition of teledentistry to include dental examinations.

Out-of-state EFDAs

Created a pathway for qualified EFDAs who were certified in another state within the prior 10 years to become certified in Arizona after demonstrating competency.

Regional examinations

Required BODEX to recognize qualifying clinical examinations administered by other regional testing agencies.

Credentialing relief
  • Eliminated the $2,000 credentialing fee for certain applicants who completed a non-WREB examination within the previous five years.
  • Authorized BODEX to reduce the credentialing fee for applicants outside that five-year period.
Renewal fee relief
  • Dentist renewal fees dropped from $600 to $510.
  • Dental hygienist renewal fees dropped from $300 to $255.
  • Renewal fees were waived for dentists, hygienists, and denturists for 2018, 2019, and 2020.
Why was fee relief possible

The Dental Board fund held approximately $5 million—more than four times the Board's annual operating expenses. AzDA and the Arizona Dental Hygiene Association petitioned the Board and the Legislature to return part of that surplus to licensees through lower, temporarily waived renewal fees.

Workforce policy

Dental therapy Sunrise applications

AzDA participated in the review of proposals to create a new dental therapy profession and helped shape the debate that continued into the 2018 legislative session.

Policy under review
Sunrise application

Proposal to establish dental therapy in Arizona

Advanced to 2018
2017 outcome

An initial Sunrise Application was overwhelmingly rejected, while a revised proposal later received narrow committee approval and moved forward for possible legislation.

Initial application
  • Heard by the Joint Health Committee of Reference on December 16, 2016.
  • Defeated by a vote of eight against and one in favor.
Revised application
  • Submitted by Dental Care for Arizona.
  • Passed the committee by a narrow vote of five to four.
  • Bill language was expected for the January 2018 session.
Delivering measurable member value

AzDA advocacy improved patient access and reduced the cost of practicing dentistry

The 2017 results included restored patient benefits, lower licensing costs, modernized regulatory rules, and active representation in major workforce policy debates.

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