H.B. 3193 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 3193 By: Uresti Public Health Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, dental assistants can apply pit and fissure sealants if the delegating dentist is a Medicaid provider. This authority was granted by Senate Bill 3507 in the 77th Legislature. Many dental assistants have already been trained and certified for this purpose by the State Board of Dental Examiners. HB 3193 adds that the dental assistant can perform this procedure if the delegating dentist practices in an area that the Texas Department of Health has determined to be underserved. The purpose of this bill is to provide greater assistance to dentists which will facilitate greater access to care for persons living in underserved areas, especially where there is a critical need for dental services due to a lack of qualified dentists. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS HB 3193 amends the Occupations Code by allowing a licensed dentist to delegate the application of a pit and fissure sealant to a dental assistant if the dentist is a Medicaid provider or if the dentist practices in a TDH determined underserved area. The dental assistant must be certified to apply a pit and fissure sealant in order for the dentist to delegate the procedure to them. EFFECTIVE DATE Upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2003.