Evers signs 5 bills addressing state’s dental healthcare workforce

WAUSAU, Wis. (Civic Media) – Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers signed five bills into law on Wednesday that address dental healthcare in the state.

Evers held the signing at Northcentral Technical College in Wausau.

The bills address education and licensing for dental professionals and will also ease insurance issues for people receiving services.

“Every Wisconsinite should have access to quality, affordable healthcare, and that includes dental care,” Evers said on social media.

Every Wisconsinite should have access to quality, affordable healthcare, and that includes dental care.

I was proud to sign 5 bipartisan bills today to help bolster our dental care workforce and expand on our work to ensure accessible dental care for all.https://t.co/ZUiNBNvQGW pic.twitter.com/LULBlUaaLl

— Governor Tony Evers (@GovEvers) January 31, 2024

Wisconsin Acts 87 through 91 changes dental care practices across most of the state:

• S.B. 689 (Act 87) affects licensing for dental therapists, including where they can practice
• S.B. 692 (Act 88) adds Wisconsin to the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact, allowing professionals to practice in any Compact states
• S.B. 702 (Act 89) addresses $20 million in funding for an oral healthcare workforce program and how to direct the money to technical colleges
• S.B. 706 (Act 90) changes how scholarships are allocated and directs $350,000 each year to the Marquette University School of Dentistry
• A.B. 62 (Act 91) will allow people to be reimbursed by dental providers rather than waiting for their insurance to send them money

“I am proud to sign these five bipartisan bills that will move us forward in our work to address shortages and bolster our dental healthcare workforce while also closing gaps in access across the state,” Evers said in a release.

According to the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration, Wisconsin has a shortage of 160 dental health care professionals.