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Oregon Health Authority

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the objective of the Dental Pilot Project Program?

Senate Bill 738 was passed by the Oregon State Legislature in 2011. This bill allows the Oregon Health Authority to approve Dental Pilot Projects once an application has been approved. The goal of the Dental Pilot Projects is to encourage the development of innovative practices in oral health care delivery systems with a focus on providing care to populations that evidence-based studies have shown have the highest disease rates and the least access to dental care.
Dental Pilot Projects are intended to evaluate the quality of care, access, cost, workforce, and efficacy by teaching new skills to existing categories of dental personnel; developing new categories of dental personnel; accelerating the training of existing categories of dental personnel; or teaching new oral health care roles to previously untrained persons.

Who may apply?

A project is eligible to apply if it meets the criteria in Oregon Administrative Rules, 333-010-0700 through 333-010-0820. The project sponsor must be a non-profit educational institution, professional dental organization, or community hospital or clinic. The application must demonstrate how the pilot project will comply with the requirements of the OAR 333-010-0700 through 333-010-0820.

Is funding available to support a pilot project?

The Oregon Health Authority does not fund projects. Projects are required to be self-funded. For detailed information, please review the funding sources and requirements in the Application Workbook on page 7.


What type of projects does the Oregon Health Authority approve?

The Oregon Health Authority may approve a dental pilot project that is designed to operate for three to five years or a sufficient amount of time to evaluate the validity of the pilot project and evaluate the quality of care, access, cost, workforce and efficacy.
Projects must achieve at least one of the following:
  1. Teach new skills to existing categories of dental personnel
  2. Develop new categories of dental personnel
  3. Accelerate the training of existing categories of dental personnel
  4. Teach new oral health care roles to previously untrained persons

What is the approval timeframe?

Applications can take between 3 to 6 months to go through the entire approval process.

What are the responsibilities of the Oregon Health Authority?

The Oregon Health Authority is responsible for processing initial pilot project applications, approving projects and monitoring approved pilot projects. Program staff shall review approved projects and the assessment shall include but is not limited to reviewing progress reports and conducting site visits. The program is responsible for ascertaining the progress of the project in meeting its stated objectives and in complying with program statutes and regulations.

What is the Technical Review Board?

Each project application will be reviewed by a Technical Review Board comprised of community and subject matter experts relevant to each specific application. The board will be an interdisciplinary team with 5 to 7 representatives from:
  • Dental boards
  • Professional organizations
  • Other state regulatory bodies
  • OHA Dental Pilot Project
  • Interested parties and additional subject matter experts who have applied to participate in reviewing a Dental Pilot Project Application

Role of the Board Members

Board members will provide recommendations to the State Dental Director who will have final approval of each application. 

What is the Oversight and Advisory Committee?

The Oversight and Advisory Committee is an interdisciplinary team composed of representatives of the dental boards, professional organizations, other state regulatory bodies and interested parties that have applied to participate in advising a Dental Pilot Project. Each Dental Pilot Project will have a unique Oversight and Advisory Committee. An individual may sit on multiple Oversight and Advisory Committees, however a new application is required for each pilot project on which the individual wishes to participate.
About the Oversight and Advisory Committee

Where can I find more information about Senate Bill 738 and the Oregon Administrative Rules?