Wisconsin passes bills to improve dental workforce

Some significant changes are coming for Wisconsin.

Wisconsin lawmakers passed a health care package that will address the ongoing workforce shortage issues afflicting dentistry.

Gov. Tony Evers signed the bills into law Jan. 31.

The Wisconsin Dental Association supported several pieces of the legislation, including $20 million allocated for the Wisconsin Technical College System to invest in oral health care workforce initiatives; rural scholarships for qualified students enrolled in the Marquette University School of Dentistry; and entering the Dental and Dental Hygienist Compact.

“The last legislative session we really made workforce a big priority for our advocacy efforts. We’ve been talking with our local legislators and telling them our stories, and they’ve responded in correcting the legislation to help with the funding and alleviating the shortage,” said Chris Hansen, D.D.S., president of the Wisconsin Dental Association.

One bill the dental association supported will give the Wisconsin Technical College System $20 million to distribute among tech colleges. Tech colleges may submit funding requests for certain expenditures such as capital costs for equipment or facility expansion, instructional supplies, clinic fees and hiring bonuses of up to $5,000 per eligible instructor.

Source: Wisconsin passes bills to improve dental workforce / ADA.org