Allied Oral Health Professional (Overview)

Revised: February 23, 2024

· Dental Therapists (DT) and Advanced Dental Therapists (ADT)

· Collaborative Practice Dental Hygienists

· Eligible Providers

· Eligible Members

· Covered Services

· Legal References

Dental Therapists (DT) and Advanced Dental Therapists (ADT)

Legislation allows Minnesota Health Care Programs (MHCP) to enroll individual dental therapists (DT) and advanced dental therapists (ADT) to provide oral health services for MHCP members as specified within their scope and collaborative management agreement (CMA).

DTs and ADTs providing services for MHCP members must enroll and be identified as the treating provider on claims.

DT and ADTs providing services to enrollees in a managed care organization (MCO) must contact the MCO directly for enrollment requirements and coverage policy.

Collaborative management agreement (CMA):

· Licensed DTs must retain a Minnesota Board of Dentistry approved CMA with a licensed dentist. Any changes in the agreement must be reported to the Board.

· The collaborating dentist accepts responsibility for all services authorized and performed by the DT authorized in the CMA. Permitting an ADT or DT to perform a dental service other than those authorized violates Minnesota Statutes, 150A.01 to Minnesota Statutes,150A.12.

· CMAs must be signed and maintained by the collaborating dentist and the DT.

· CMAs must be reviewed, updated and submitted to the Minnesota Board of Dentistry on an annual basis

· DTs who subsequently become certified as ADTs must provide an updated CMA to MHCP and a copy of their Board of Dentistry ADT certification.

Collaborative Practice Dental Hygienists (CPDH)

Dental hygienists practicing under the collaborative practice statute may provide dental hygiene services for MHCP members as specified within their scope and collaborative agreement. A dentist is not required to first examine the patient or be present. Collaborative practice (CP) hygienists providing services within their scope of practice for MHCP members must enroll and be identified as the treating provider on claims.

CPDHs must be employed or retained by one of the following MHCP-enrolled groups:

· Health care facility

· Program (such as Head Start)

· Nonprofit organization

Individual CPDHs must indicate their group affiliations on their applications. Groups must include their enrolled CP hygienists using the MHCP Organization Provider Profile Change (DHS-3535A) (PDF).

Collaborative agreement (CA):

· A collaborative practice dental hygienist must have a collaborative agreement with a Minnesota licensed dentist

· The agreement must be in accordance with Minnesota Statutes, 150A.10, subdivision 1a(c) and should be registered with the Minnesota Board of Dentistry

Eligible Providers

Advanced Dental Therapist (ADT)
Dental Therapist (DT)
Collaborative Practice Dental Hygienists

Eligible Members

Not all MHCP members have coverage for dental services. Determine eligibility for dental services using the major program code assigned to the member and the dental service section of the MHCP Benefits at-a-glance chart. Review the Dental Benefits.

Covered Services

Refer to the following sections of our MHCP Provider Manual for coverage and billing information.

Advanced Dental Therapist (ADT)
Dental Therapist (DT)
Collaborative Practice Dental Hygienists

Legal References

Minnesota Statutes, 256B.0625, subdivision 59 (Services provided by advanced dental therapists and dental therapists)
Minnesota Statutes, 150A.05, subdivision 1a (Practice of dental hygienists)
Minnesota Statutes, 150A.10, subdivision 1a (Collaborative practice authorization for dental hygienists in community settings)
Minnesota Statutes, 150A.105 (Dental therapist)
Minnesota Statutes, 150A.105, subdivisions 4(c) and 4(d) (Dental therapist allowed dental services)
Minnesota Statutes, 150A.106 (Advanced Dental Therapist)
Minnesota Statutes, 152.01, subdivision 10 (Narcotic drug)