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ENGROSSED HOUSE
BILL NO. 2899 By: Eaves of the House
and
Pederson of the Senate
An Act relating to professions and occupations;
amending 59 O.S. 2021, Section 328.54, which relates
to dental practice; modifying teledentistry
requirements; amending 63 O.S. 2021, Sections 1-2711
and 1-2712, which relate to the Oklahoma Dental Loan
Repayment Act; adding legislative findings;
increasing certain repayment program allowances;
modifying program requirements; adding an exemption;
and providing an effective date.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 59 O.S. 2021, Section 328.54, is
amended to read as follows:
Section 328.54. A. Any person conducting a diagnosis for the
purpose of prescribing medication or treatment or any other action
determined to be a dental practice as defined by the State Dental
Act, via the Internet or other telecommunications device on any
patient that is physically located in this state shall hold a valid
Oklahoma state dental license.
B. A dentist holding a valid dental license in Oklahoma may
consult, diagnose and treat a patient of record via synchronous or
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asynchronous telecommunication between the patient and dentist. The
dentist must record all activities relating to teledentistry in the
patient record and must have an office location in Oklahoma
available for follow-up treatment and maintenance of records in
Oklahoma or adjacent to Oklahoma and within fifty (50) miles of an
Oklahoma border of a state with an interstate dental and dental
hygienist compact.
SECTION 2. AMENDATORY 63 O.S. 2021, Section 1-2711, is
amended to read as follows:
Section 1-2711. A. The Legislature recognizes that there is a
need to:
1. Upgrade the availability of quality dental care services for
the people of Oklahoma;
2. Improve the balance of dental manpower distribution in the
state by geographic location; and
3. Increase access to dental care to those who are dependent on
the state for necessary dental care;
4. Allow providers to work at the top of their license and
utilize supporting roles; and
5. Address the need for dental faculty.
B. The purpose of the Oklahoma Dental Loan Repayment Act shall
be to:
1. Increase the number of dentists serving and caring for those
dependent upon the state for dental care; and
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2. Ensure that dental care and services are accessible
throughout the state, and specifically, that quality dental care and
services be accessible to underserved dental areas in rural and
metropolitan areas of the state, and to those dependent upon the
state for dental care.
SECTION 3. AMENDATORY 63 O.S. 2021, Section 1-2712, is
amended to read as follows:
Section 1-2712. A. 1. The State Department of Health shall
administer the Oklahoma Dental Loan Repayment Program.
2. The Program, depending upon available funding, shall provide
educational loan repayment assistance for up to a total of twenty-
five thirty full-time-equivalent Oklahoma-licensed dentists per year
including new and continuing contract renewable participants.
3. Each award shall be for a contracted period and shall be
distributed to the participant by drafts made payable to the
participant for deposit to an appropriate loan agency in equal
monthly disbursements, not to exceed Fifty Thousand Dollars
($50,000.00) Sixty Thousand Dollars ($60,000.00) per year for a
maximum five-year period. Prior to any disbursement, the Department
shall certify and properly review monthly reports submitted by the
participating dentist detailing performance of activities in
accordance with the Oklahoma Dental Loan Repayment Act.
4. At the conclusion of the minimum service obligation, the
Department shall review the performance in the Program of the
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participating dentist and determine whether an award may be granted
for an additional period not to exceed a total participation in the
Program of five (5) years pursuant to rules promulgated by the
Department.
B. Any dentist entering the Program each year as a nonfaculty
participant shall agree to provide dental care and services to
Medicaid recipients as authorized by the Oklahoma Health Care
Authority. The Department shall be responsible for ensuring that at
least thirty percent (30%) of the patients treated by the dentist
will be Medicaid recipients.
1. Any general practice dentist entering the Program each year
as a nonfaculty participant shall agree to provide dental care and
services in a designated Dental Health Professional Shortage Area
(DHPSA) of this state.
2. Any dentist licensed to practice as a Pediatric Dentistry
Specialist as defined by the State Dental Act or any dentist
practicing in a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), FQHC look-
alike, county health department, Oklahoma Board of Dentistry-
registered dental facility, or city-county health department may be
exempt from the requirement to practice in a Dental Health
Professional Shortage Area (DHPSA).
C. A dentist entering the Program as a faculty participant
shall agree to teach at the University of Oklahoma College of
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Dentistry. In the event there are no appropriate faculty
applicants, the Program may award additional nonfaculty dentists.
D. A dentist shall be eligible to participate in the Program if
the dentist:
1. Is a new dental school graduate. Preference will be given
to graduates of the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry;
2. Is licensed to practice dentistry in Oklahoma; and
3. Has demonstrated financial need.
E. The dentist shall execute a contract with the Department to
provide dental services pursuant to the terms of the contract and in
accordance with rules promulgated by the Department.
F. If the dentist does not fulfill the service obligation, the
Department may collect from the participant the entire amount of
loan payments made under the Program plus interest.
G. The Department shall present a report on the operation of
the Program to the Governor, the Speaker of the Oklahoma House of
Representatives, and the President Pro Tempore of the Oklahoma State
Senate within one (1) month of the beginning of each regular session
of the Legislature including but not limited to the progress made in
accomplishing the goal of the Program.
SECTION 4. This act shall become effective November 1, 2025.
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Passed the House of Representatives the 12th day of March, 2025.
Presiding Officer of the House
of Representatives
Passed the Senate the _____ day of __________, 2025.
Presiding Officer of the Senate