Antitrust Law Daily Wrap Up, ANTITRUST NEWS: FTC staff urges finalization of dental education accreditation standards, (Dec 1, 2014)

By Greg Hammond, J.D.

The FTC Office of Policy Planning, Bureau of Economics, and Bureau of Competition staffs are urging the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) to finalize and adopt proposed “Accreditation Standards for Dental Therapy Education Programs” as soon as possible. The standards set forth requirements to achieve and maintain accreditation for dental therapy education programs leading to baccalaureate degrees in dental therapy.

FTC staff previously submitted a comment, supporting CODA’s efforts to facilitate the creation of new dental therapy education programs, and recommending several revisions to address portions of the standards that could have been interpreted to impede competition. Having addressed many of the previous comment’s concerns, the staffs are now supporting a quick adoption of the standards, in the interest of allowing consumers to reap the benefits of increased competition.

“By moving forward expeditiously to adopt its proposed Accreditation Standards, CODA would be taking an important step to address the growing interest in training and licensing dental therapists to meet dental care needs,” the November 21, 2014 letter to CODA stated.

The 2013 comment noted that categorical statements regarding a supervising dentist’s responsibility for diagnosis and treatment planning could discourage state-level legislation allowing dental therapists to conduct evaluations and formulate treatment plans, and could hinder the development of education programs that would train dental therapists to perform those functions. In addition, the 2013 letter recommended that CODA consider developing accreditation standards for master’s or graduate level programs. Both of these considerations were taken into account in the revised proposed standards¸ the staffs noted.

Consequently, the FTC staff urged CODA “to finalize and adopt proposed standards without unnecessary delay, so that the development of this emerging service model can proceed, and consumers may reap the likely benefits of increased competition.” According to the letter, “any further delay in the adoption of accreditation standards could discourage and delay the development of education programs, reduce the availability of these new professionals, and hinder their ability to practice in different states.”

News: Antitrust FederalTradeCommissionNews