In July 2023, AAO reported that Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo signed into law AB 147, Nevada’s “modernization of dentistry” bill that included AAO teledentistry language, thanks to grassroots engagement and policy influence by the AAO advocacy team, AAO members, and the Nevada State Orthodontic Society (NSOS).
This landmark law made Nevada the first state to require an in-person exam prior to orthodontic treatment and contains other parameters preferred by the AAO, such as requiring that a patient have a provider telephone number and other contact information for the doctor supervising their treatment.
The legislation also directed the Nevada State Board of Dental Examiners (NSBDE) to create regulations to implement AB 147. Over the past year, the NSBDE and its rulemaking committee held meetings to gather input from all stakeholders, including Nevada AAO members listed below, as they drafted regulations for proposal and public comment.
Dr. John Griffiths, AAO Council on Government Advocacy member, Dr. Mark Handelin, and Dr. Frank Belgin, AAO National Advocacy NetworkComponent Advocacy Liaison from Nevada and past Council on Government Advocacy Chair, continued to represent the AAO and NSOS during this process. They worked to ensure patient health and safety were at the forefront of conversations related to draft regulations.
In July 2024, the NSBDE posted a Notice of Intent to Act Upon a Regulation. This notice allows for the NSBDE to start the official rule-making process, which includes a 30-day public comment period, during which written comments are accepted, and a public hearing. The AAO and NSOS jointly submitted public comments that highlight areas of the proposed regulations that the AAO and NSOS believe support patient health and safety and those areas of the proposed regulations that should be clarified or expanded upon to be clearer and address the intent of the legislation.
The public hearing was held the evening of August 14, 2024. Dr. John Griffiths and Dr. Mark Handelin attended the hearing on behalf of the AAO and NSOS and Nevada patients. The meeting saw active participation from representatives of Byte, a direct-to-consumer orthodontic company, alongside NSBDE members and other stakeholders, including the Nevada Dental Association. The NSBDE heard feedback for about two hours before concluding the meeting. The NSBDE will consider all written and public comments and can decide to make changes to the proposed regulations or move forward with the current draft into the second public comment period.
The AAO and NSOS are committed to increasing access to quality care and utilizing technology to enhance treatment while fully maintaining patient health and safety. We appreciate the legislature’s past work and the NSBDE’s work on these proposed regulations and its dedication to ensuring teledentistry, and dental treatment in general, can be provided safely and effectively in Nevada.
As we continue advocacy work in the states, please help support AAO Advocacy priorities by making your gift celebrating the 30th Anniversary of AAOPAC in 2024. It only takes a few minutes to complete your contribution now at AAOPAC.org, using your e-mail address associated with your AAO membership.
AAOPAC is helping to fuel our advocacy success not only in Washington, D.C. but in states throughout the country as well. Our AAOPAC Pillars of Giving are working and the AAO’s advocacy influence continues to grow through AAO member grassroots engagement. Your grassroots voice and AAOPAC support make all the difference!
