Oppose House Bill 5511

Act now to stop legislators from limiting the use of new technology by dental hygienists and limiting the function of the dental hygienist members of the Illinois Board of Dentistry. House Bill 5511 has already passed the Illinois House of Representatives, but can be stopped in the Illinois Senate if you take action now.

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: Oppose House Bill 5511

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

As a Dental Hygienist and member of the American Dental Hygienists' Association (ADHA) and Illinois Dental Hygienists' Association, I write to ask you to oppose House Bill 5511. As a licensed oral health professional, I feel strongly about the need to preserve our profession and ensure that the best possible care can continue to be provided to our patients.

Presently, safe and effective technologies exist that provide means for Dental Hygienists to provide comprehensive and preventive oral healthcare for all patients. Any rules prohibiting the use of new technologies will serve to limit the quality of patient care that can be provided as well as further limit some of the most basic oral healthcare services that address dental diseases in underserved populations.

Dental Hygienists are highly trained and skilled professionals with educational requirements that currently exceed their state practice limitations. I respectfully ask that you oppose House Bill 5511 and further explore the impetus for this counter-productive proposal for our profession and our patients. With no clear definition of "new technologies", the consequences of this bill could essentially eliminate treatment modalities that have been performed by Dental Hygienists for over 30 years.

By understanding the magnitude of dental disease and the disproportional occurrence in our Nation's most vulnerable populations, the proposed limitation of services provided by Dental Hygienists will only serve to further the crises in oral healthcare. Your leadership to oppose this bill will have a positive impact on many populations with the greatest needs. I respectfully ask that you consider this request and thank you for your attention to this important matter. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
April 24, 2008

Background Information

HB 5511 – Restrictions on Dental Hygienists

House Bill 5511, sponsored by Senator John Jones (R-Mt. Vernon), is pending before the State Senate and would negatively impact the way dental hygienists practice. The legislation would require the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation to prohibit the use of new technology and techniques by hygienists. Or, instead of issuing a prohibition, the Department would be required to issue rules on the education and training required for the use of any new technology and techniques to be used by a hygienist. The bill also prohibits the hygienist members of the Illinois Board of Dentistry from participating in rulemaking and disciplinary actions that involve the clinical decisions of a dentist.

This legislation would create an administrative burden for the Department and the Board of Dentistry, ultimately limiting a patient’s access to the most current treatment methods. The legislation does not advance dental care in the state and lawmakers should vote no when it comes for a vote. Click here for additional information on the legislation.

Please contact your state senator immediately and ask him or her to vote against HB 5511. You can also help stop this bill by contacting members of the Senate Licensed Activities listed below.

Senate Licensed Activities Committee	Springfield Office	District Office

William Delgado, Chairperson	(217) 782-5652	(773) 292-0202
Antonio Munoz, Vice-Chair	(217) 782-9415	(773) 869-9050
Maggie Crotty	(217) 782-9595	(708) 687-9696
William Haine	(217) 782-5247	(618) 465-4764
Ira Silverstein	(217) 782-5500	(773) 743-5015
John Jones, Minority Spokesperson	(217) 782-0471	(618) 242-9511
Tim Bivins	(217) 782-0180
Gary Dahl	(217) 782-3840	(815) 220-8720
Kirk Dillard	(217) 782-8148	(630) 969-0990