MDHA Legislative Priorities 2025
Advocacy is necessary to achieve legislative success
Understanding the purpose of and need for a strong professional advocacy program is the first step in achieving legislative success. It is important to know what role the MDHA plays in these efforts, and more importantly, what role you play in this process.
You, as a member of MDHA, are an advocate for dental hygienists and for the patients you serve.
Forthcoming and Possible Bills
MDHA is supporting two bills, SB327 (sponsored by Sen. Ben Brown) and HB65, (sponsored by Rep. Jeff Coleman) related to the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact. In contrast, we do not endorse an alternative Interstate Compact bill, SB109, sponsored by Senator Justin Brown, as it restricts entry into the Compact solely to those who have completed the ADEX dental and dental hygiene examinations. The purpose of the Compact is to enhance licensure portability for licensed dental providers, enabling them to practice in other states without the burden of additional examinations or exorbitant fees.
Additionally, we are working to inform legislators about the role of dental hygienists, our professional responsibilities, and the educational requirements necessary to qualify as dental hygienists. This initiative is in preparation for a possible bill, sponsored by the Missouri Dental Association (MDA), aimed at legalizing and permanently establishing the pilot program that permits supragingival scaling and probing by Expanded Function Dental Assistants (EFDAs) Oral Preventive Assistants (OPAs). It is crucial to emphasize that quality patient care is rooted in our comprehensive education. A few weekend courses on supragingival scaling and probing are insufficient for this purpose and are detrimental to Missouri citizens’ health.
Learn more about MDHA's Free Advocacy CEU, "Your Voice, Our Future" and our Lobby Day 2025: