Resolve, To Study Oral Health Care in Maine and Make Recommendations Regarding How To Address Maine's Oral Health Care Needs
Maine Legislature, Session 125, LD 1105
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: RECTOR, STRANG BURGESS, MARTIN, SHERMAN, SNOWE-MELLO, DOW, GILBERT, HERBIG, PRESCOTT, STUCKEY

Legislative Document 
No. 1105 
S.P. 338 
In Senate, March 15, 2011 
Resolve, To Study Oral Health Care in Maine and Make 
Recommendations Regarding How To Address Maine's Oral Health 
Care Needs 
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed. 
JOSEPH G. CARLETON, JR. 
Secretary of the Senate 
Presented by Senator RECTOR of Knox. 
Cosponsored by Representative STRANG BURGESS of Cumberland and 
Senators: MARTIN of Kennebec, SHERMAN of Aroostook, SNOWE-MELLO of 
Androscoggin, Representatives: DOW of Waldoboro, GILBERT of Jay, HERBIG of Belfast, 
PRESCOTT of Topsham, STUCKEY of Portland. 
Preamble. Whereas, many Mainers face barriers to oral health care; and 
Whereas, parts of each of Maine's 16 counties have been identified as federally 
designated dental health professional shortage areas; and 
Whereas, there is no single answer to addressing Maine's oral health care needs; and 
Whereas, ongoing challenges to Maine's oral health care needs include 
reimbursement, geography, personal decisions, workforce issues and many other factors; 
and 
Whereas, the Legislature has in recent years sought to address Maine's oral health 
care needs through changes to the dental workforce and scopes of practice; and 
Whereas, no comprehensive study has been completed regarding Maine's oral 
health care needs or the effect of the legislative changes and evaluations of strategies to 
address the outstanding needs; and 
Whereas, this resolve directs the Legislature to contract with a qualified consultant 
to conduct a study of Maine's oral health care needs; now, therefore, be it 
Sec. 1.  Oral health care needs; study. Resolved: That the Legislature shall 
contract with a qualified consultant that has sufficient resources and experience to 
conduct a study of the State's oral health care needs that examines the type and 
geographic distribution of oral health care providers and analyzes barriers to oral health 
care in the State.  The study must specifically examine: 
1.  Existing public and private financial resources for oral health care in the State; 
2.  Limitations on access to oral health care for citizens of the State; 
3.  The sustainability of public financing programs for oral health care; 
4.  The actual and projected dental workforce needs for the State; and 
5.  The effect of recent changes surrounding oral health care in the State, such as the 
development of a dental school based in the State, the creation of expanded function 
dental assistants, dental hygienists with public health supervision status and independent 
practice dental hygienists. 
The study may reference or incorporate information from other relevant research; and be 
it further 
Sec. 2.  Funding.  Resolved:  That the Legislature shall seek outside funding to 
fully fund all costs of the study authorized in section 1.  If sufficient outside funding has 
not been received by the Legislature by July 15, 2011 to fully fund all costs of the study, 
no expenses of any kind related to the study may be incurred. The study must be 
completed no later than October 1, 2011 and must be submitted to the Joint Standing 
Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development.  After receipt 
and review of the study, the joint standing committee may report out a bill to the Second 
Regular Session of the 125th Legislature. 
SUMMARY 
This resolve directs the Legislature to contract with a qualified consultant that has 
sufficient resources and experience to conduct a study of the State's oral health care 
needs.