Maryland Collaborative to Improve Children's Oral Health Through School-Based Programs - Establishment

HB 1143 allows dental hygienists to provide preventive dental services in Maryland schools and school-based health centers under general dentist supervision (without requiring a dentist to be physically present on-site). It creates a Maryland Collaborative composed of health, education, and community representatives to study and recommend improvements to school-based dental programs. The bill directly affects all Maryland school children, particularly those in underserved communities where 21% have untreated dental decay and pandemic-era access to preventive care dropped to 56.5% for Medicaid-covered children. The Collaborative will develop strategies to address these gaps, building on existing school dental initiatives.