Increasing access to dental and medical care by allowing greater flexibility in scope of practice

R.J. Manski, D. Hoffmann and V. Rowthorn

American Journal of Public Health, 2015, vol. 105, issue 9, 1755-1762

Abstract: In recent years, advocates for increasing access to medical and oral health care have argued for expanding the scope of practice of dentists and physicians. Although this idea may have merit, significant legal and other barriers stand in the way of allowing dentists to do more primary health care, physicians to do more oral health care, and both professions to collaborate. State practice acts, standards of care, and professional school curricula all support the historical separation between the 2 professions. Current laws do not contemplate working across professional boundaries, leaving providers who try vulnerable to legal penalties. Here we examine the legal, regulatory, and training barriers to dental andmedical professionals performing services outside their traditional scope of practice.

Keywords: clinical practice; curriculum; dental education; health care delivery; health care manpower; health care policy; health care quality; human; legislation and jurisprudence; licensing; manpower; medical education; physician attitude; primary health care; professional practice; trends; United States, Curriculum; Dentist's Practice Patterns; Education, Dental; Education, Medical; Health Manpower; Health Services Accessibility; Humans; Licensure; Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; Physician's Practice Patterns; Physician's Role; Primary Health Care; Professional Practice; Quality of Health Care; United States (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2015.302654_0

DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2015.302654

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