1978 BILL 243 Fourth Session, 18th Legislature, 27 Elizabeth II THE LEmsLATWE-ASSEMBLY OF ALBERTA BILL 243 THE DENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ACT MR. NOTLEY First Reading _________________________________________ _ Second Reading ____________ , __ ~-------------~--------- Committee of the Whole _________________________________ _ Third Reading ___________________________ .,._:-'-.--"--________ _ Royal Assent ________________________________________ - ---- Printed by the Queen's Printer for the Province of Alberta, EDMONTON

Bill 243 Mr. Notley BILL 243 1978 THE DENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ACT (Assented to , 1978) HER MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, enacts as follows: 1.

In this Act, (a) "beneficiary" means a person who is a member of a class of persons designated by the Lieutenant Governor in Council .as beneficiaries; (b) "dental health worker" means a dental nurse, dental hygienist, dental technician or dental assistant registered under The Dental Health Workers Act; ('c) "dentist" means a practising member in go'Od standing of the Alberta Dental Association; (d) "Minister" means the member of the Executive Council to whom the administration of this Act is assigned. 2. ,( 1 ) The Minister may establish p~ograms for the purposes of this Act to provide any one or more 'Of the following preventive and treatment dental services t'O a beneficiary (

a) cleaning and scaling of teeth; (

b) the topioal application of anticariogenic agents; (

c) education 'and instruction in ,the car'e of teeth; (

d) examinations and diagnostic services, including x-rays; (

e) fillings of teeth; (f)treatment of diseased gums; (g) 'extractions of teeth; (

h) provision 'Of prosthetic and orthodontic dental appliances 'Of the kind approved by the M~nister; and (0 the provision of drugs and medicines oott'sidered ad­ visable in the treatment of a dental condition.

(2) Where under the regulations, the Lieutenant Governor in Council has prescribed other preventive or treatment dental serv­ ices that may be provided to beneficiaries, the Minister may make arrangements to provide those servi'ces to beneficiaries.

Explanatory Notes I.

Definitions. 2. Dental programs may be established.

3. For the purpose of providing dental services under this Act, the Minister may (

a) arrange for the employment of dentists, dental health workers, and other professional, technical and clerical staff under The Public Service Act or as contractors; (

b) establish stationary and mobile clinics for the provision of dental services to beneficiaries; (

c) acquire 'such dental equipment, material and substances as the Minister considers necessary in the provisi'On of dental services pursuant to this Act; (

d) enter into agreements with associations, dentists and other persons for the provision of dental services to benefici­ aries; (

e) enter into agreements with any person rel'ating to the use of buildings and facilities for the purpose of providing dental services to benefioiaries; and (

f) do such other things as he considers necessary 'Or advis­ able for the carrying out of the 'Objects 'and purposes of this Act. 4.

(1) Nothing in this Act requires the Minister t'O make or authorize payment for dental services pr'Ovided to a beneficiary by a dentist 'Or other person unless the dentist 'Or other person is employed under The Public Service Act 'Or has entered into an agreement with the !Minister to receive payment from the Govern­ ment for the provision of those dental services.

(2) Where a dentalservi,ce is not authorized by this Aot or the regulations the Minister is not required to make payment for or provide that dental service or t'O require a dentist or any other person to provide the service. 5. The Minister, with the approval 'Of the Lieutenant Governor in Council, may, on behalf of the Government, enter into agree­ ments with the Government of Oanada or the government of any province or territory for the provision of dental services to benefi­ ciaries, subject to such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon. 16.

A dentist who has agreed, either by himself or through an agent acting on his behalf to provide dental services to benefioiaries under this Act shall not charge, demand 'Or aocept a fee for those services, that is greater than the fee for those services provided by the agreement or established by regulations under this Act. 7.

For the purpose of carrying out the provisions 'Of this Act according to their intent, the Lieutenant Govern'Or in Council may make such regulations and orders as are ancillary thereto and are not inoonsistent therewith and, without restricting the generality of the foregoing, the Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations 2

s. Minister may employ or contract with dentists, etc. 4. Payments to dentists, etc. 5. Intergovernmental agreements. 6. Prohibits extra billing. 7. Regulations. 2

(

a) prescribing dental services other than those set out in

section 2, that may be provided to beneficiaries; (

b) prescribing the procedure to be followed by a person in obtaining dental services; (

c) prescribing forms f.or use under this Act; (

d) establishing the fees to be paid to dentists and other persons for providing dental services under this Act; (

e) providing for the use of schools, clinics or government institutions and facilities for the delivery of dental serv­ ices to beneficiaries. 8. The initiation of pTograms and services under this Act shall be contingent upon the appropriation of funds therefor by the Legislature. 9. This Act comes ,into force on a date to be fixed by Proclamation which shall not be earlier than the date of the appropriation mentioned in

section 8 nor earlier than the date of Proclamation of The Dental Health Workers Act. 3

8. Programs contingent upon appropriation. 3 Title: 1978 (18th, 4th) Bill 243, The Dental Health Services Act