Veto in Maine is a Setback For Midlevel Practitioners
The movement to increase implementation of the midlevel practitioner model hit a speed bump recently when the Maine state Senate sustained the governor’s veto of a bill that would have expanded the role of dental hygiene therapists.
The movement to increase implementation of the midlevel practitioner model hit a speed bump recently when the Maine state Senate sustained the governor’s veto of a bill that would have expanded the role of dental hygiene therapists. To expand dental services in rural areas, Maine has been a pioneer in efforts to create new classes of providers. A 2014 Maine law created the dental hygiene therapist, a practitioner who is able to provide restorative care under the direct supervision of a dentist. The new bill, LD 1514, approved by both houses, would have allowed dental therapists to work under general supervision. A Bangor Daily News editorial praised the proposal— saying it would allow practitioners to travel in mobile clinics or work alone in underserved rural areas—but also noting that dentists had expressed concerns. Governor Paul LePage vetoed the bill April 26. The Maine House of Representatives voted 141-7-3 on April 29 to override the veto. But that same day the state Senate sustained the veto by a 20-14 vote.
From Dimensions of Dental Hygiene. June 2016;14(06):10.
