DENTIST'S HEALTH PROFESSION SPECIALTY FIELD LICENSE

House Bill 6333

Sponsor: Rep. Patricia Birkholz

Committee: Health Policy

Complete to 11-8-02

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 6333 AS INTRODUCED 9-18-02

House Bill 6333 would amend the Public Health Code to phase out dental "specialty certification" and create a new credential for qualified dentists-the "health profession specialty field license". A "health profession specialty field license" (or "field license") would be defined as an authorization to use a title issued to a licensed dentist who had met certain qualifications established by the Michigan Board of Dentistry for registration in one or more of the seven (currently acknowledged) health profession specialty fields. Any individual who held a dental specialty certification on the bill's effective date would be considered to hold a field license in that specialty and could renew the field license on the specialty certification's expiration date. Just as specialty certification authorizes the use of a title and so is considered a form of registration under current law, a field license would really be a form of registration. The bill would also specify that a licensed dentist who had not been issued a field license in any of the dental specialty fields was not prohibited from performing services in those fields.

The bill would explicitly authorize the Board of Dentistry to issue a field license to a licensed dentist who had satisfied certain requirements that exceed those required for initial licensure and that currently apply to dentists seeking dental health profession specialty certification. The bill would change various other requirements in the code so that the same requirements held whether an individual held (or was applying for) specialty certification or a field license. Among other things, an individual who held a health profession specialty field license from another state could apply for a field license in this state, according to the reciprocal licensure and registration procedures set forth in the health code. The bill would also amend the code to apply the current fee structure and requirements for holders of (and applicants for) a health profession specialty certification to holders of (and applicants for) a health profession specialty field license.

MCL 333.16105 et al.

 

Analyst: J. Caver

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This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.