iHere are the most recent health care related regulatory developments as published in the New Jersey Register on July 20, 2015:
- On July 20, 2015 at 47 NJR 1827, the Department of Human Services published notice of its proposal of new rules and the proposal of amendments to its existing rules governing community mental health services. Among other things, the proposal would add a new licensure category as a result of a recent amendment to the Medicaid State Plan. The new licensure category will be known as Community Support Services (CSS), a mental health rehabilitation service that assists individuals diagnosed with a mental illness to attain the skills necessary to achieve and maintain their life roles in employment, education, housing, and social environments.
- On July 20, 2015 at 47 NJR 1875, the Board of Marriage and Family Therapy Examiners published notice of adoption of amendments to its rules which would grant credit towards licensure and certification for education, training, and experience received while serving as a member of the Armed Forces.
- On July 20, 2015 at 47 NJR 1882, the Board of Dentistry published notice of its grant in part and denial in part of a petition for rulemaking which sought to expand the scope of services that certain dental auxiliary personnel can perform. The Board agreed with the petitioner that the functions that an LRDA-O may perform should be expanded to include: 1) using a curing light; 2) applying topical anesthetic; 3) applying topical fluoride; 4) placing and ligating arch wires; and 5) etching teeth in preparation for bonding, sealants, and desensitizing agents. The Board determined to allow dental auxiliary personnel under the direct supervision of a licensed dentist, to: 1) take impressions for orthodontic appliances; 2) place orthodontic separators; 3) remove bands and brackets without the use of rotary instruments; and 4) perform emergency treatment to provide immediate relief from an offending appliance, for example, clipping a protruding arch wire or removing a loose bracket. The Board denied the petitioner’s request to include intra-oral scanning for the purpose of obtaining digital study models or orthodontic appliances. In addition, the Board granted the petitioner’s request to expand the functions of licensed dental hygienists to include removing primary adhesive after debanding or debonding without the use of rotary instruments, but denied the petitioner’s request to expand the functions of registered dental assistants and LRDA-O to include this function.
