Minnesota lawmakers are moving forward with a bill that encourages primary care doctors to provide dental preventive services to children and teens as part of checkup or episodic care visits, according to a story by MedCity News.
S.F. No. 633 lists those services as a visual examination of a child's mouth without using dental probes, a risk assessment based on standards set by the American Academies of Pediatrics and Pediatric Dentistry, and the application of fluoride to children older than 1 year who are judged to be at risk.
In addition, the bill states:
At each checkup, if primary caries preventive services are provided, the provider must provide to the child's parent or legal guardian: information on caries etiology and prevention; and information on the importance of finding a dental home for their child by the age of 1. The provider must also advise the parent or legal guardian to contact the child's managed care plan or the Department of Human Services in order to secure a dental appointment with a dentist.
The bill was passed May 3 by the House of Representatives and May 5 by the Senate.
Copyright © 2010 DrBicuspid.com
