September 15, 2010
During the 2010 legislative session, legislators considered a bill to extend certain disclosure requirements that are in place for physicians to numerous other healthcare professions, including dentistry. SB 124, also known as the “Skolnik transparency bill,” was enacted by the governor this past June and requires healthcare professionals to report practice history information including disciplinary actions, malpractice settlements, criminal convictions and more during the initial licensure, renewal and reinstatement processes. The reported information is made available to patients and the public through an online search tool.
Most dentists will first be required to report this information during the next licensure renewal period in February 2012. Those applying for a new license or reinstating a license on or after July 1, 2011 may be required to complete the transparency reporting at an earlier date.
After initial reporting is completed, dentists will be required to update the information on file within 30 days of a change in most cases. Fines of up to $5,000 can be imposed for failure to report and update this information. More details will be posted on the Colorado State Board of Dental Examiners’ Website (http://www.dora.state.co.us/Dental/) as it becomes available.
Compliance Tip
Make sure your “address of record” for the state board is up to date so you receive news and notifications in a timely fashion. To check your address of record, look up your license in the state’s licensure system https://www.doradls.state.co.us/alison.php. On the first screen, select the individual search option and the dental board. You will then be directed to a screen where you can enter your name. In the list of search results, click on your name and the address listed at the top of this record is the “address of record” on file with the board.
To make a change to the address on file, visit http://www.dora.state.co.us/registrations/NameandAddressChanges.htm.
You can also subscribe to e-mail alerts at http://www.dora.state.co.us/dora_pages/Alerts.html. Check the box for “dentists and dental assistants.”
