HB567: HB567 Professions and businesses; authorize and regulate teledentistry by licensed dentists

Georgia law currently has no specific rules governing teledentistry, the delivery of dental care remotely using live video combined with transmitted images, X-rays, and records. This bill adds a new section to the state's dental licensing law (O.C.G.A. § 43-11-54) that defines teledentistry and lays out when and how a Georgia-licensed dentist may use it, including notifying the state dental board, keeping a physical office in Georgia, and lining up a referred dentist to handle in-person care and emergencies. The bill lets an authorizing dentist supervise up to four dental hygienists performing certain hygiene tasks remotely, prescribe non-controlled medications, order digital scans, and provide consultations and diagnoses, but bars remote-only orthodontics or fitting dental appliances. It requires informed consent, patient identity and location verification, HIPAA-compliant recordkeeping, and annual in-person visits be encouraged. It also amends insurance law (O.C.G.A. § 33-24-59.15) so dental insurance plans issued after January 1, 2026 may cover teledentistry and cannot exclude services just because they were delivered remotely. The law takes effect January 1, 2026.

• Creates a new legal definition and framework for teledentistry, the remote delivery of dental care using live video plus transmitted images and records.
• Requires a dentist who wants to practice teledentistry to notify the state dental board, keep a Georgia office, and arrange a referred dentist for in-person and emergency care.
• Limits an authorizing dentist to supervising no more than four dental hygienists at a time performing remote-permitted hygiene tasks, with exceptions for public health department staff.
• Requires informed consent, identity and location verification, and detailed recordkeeping before and during teledentistry visits.
• Bars teledentistry providers from performing orthodontics, fitting dental appliances, or waiving liability in advance for remote services.
• Amends state insurance law so dental insurance plans issued after January 1, 2026 can cover teledentistry and cannot deny coverage solely because care was delivered remotely.

Licensed dentists and dental hygienists in Georgia, patients seeking dental care (including minors needing parental consent), dental insurance companies and third-party administrators, the state dental board, and county boards of health or Department of Public Health staff providing hygiene services.

Patients in areas with limited access to dentists could get evaluations, prescriptions, or hygiene supervision remotely, while dentists gain a legal pathway to offer these services safely. Insurance companies would be allowed, though not required, to cover teledentistry visits starting in 2026, potentially changing how patients pay for remote dental care.

• Section 1 adds O.C.G.A. § 43-11-54, defining teledentistry as synchronous real-time communication combined with store-and-forward technology under general supervision of an authorizing dentist.
• Subsection (c) requires a dentist to notify the state board, maintain a Georgia office, and establish a referral relationship with an in-state referred dentist before practicing teledentistry.
• Subsection (d) lists authorized teledentistry activities: supervising hygienists remotely, prescribing non-controlled medications, ordering digital scans, and providing consultations, diagnoses, and emergency evaluations, but excludes orthodontics and dental appliance fitting.
• Subsection (e)(7) caps the number of dental hygienists an authorizing dentist may supervise via teledentistry at four at one time, with an exception for public health department or county board of health personnel.
• Subsection (e) requires informed consent, patient identity and location verification, written authorization records, and compliance with federal HIPAA privacy rules.
• Section 2 revises O.C.G.A. § 33-24-59.15 to let dental insurance plans issued or renewed after January 1, 2026 cover teledentistry and bars insurers from excluding coverage solely because a service was delivered remotely.
• Section 3 sets the effective date of the Act as January 1, 2026.

1. 2025-05-09Effective Date 2026-01-01
2. 2025-05-09Act 79
3. 2025-05-09House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2025-04-10House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2025-04-04House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub (House)
6. 2025-04-02Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute (Senate)
7. 2025-04-02Senate Third Read (Senate)
8. 2025-03-25Senate Read Second Time (Senate)

• Katie Dempsey (R, HD-013)Primary sponsor
• James Hatchett (R, HD-155)
• Lee Hawkins (R, HD-027)
• Debbie Buckner (D, HD-137)
• Darlene Taylor (R, HD-173)
• Shawn Still (R, SD-048)

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 6, 2025

   174 yea, 2 nay (1 not voting, 3 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #253

2. PassedSenate voteApril 2, 2025

   52 yea, 1 nay (2 not voting, 1 absent)

   Passage By Substitute: Senate Vote #408

3. PassedHouse voteApril 4, 2025

   165 yea, 2 nay (1 not voting, 12 absent)

   Agree To Senate Substitute: House Vote #416

• teledentistry
• dental licensing
• dental insurance coverage
• telehealth regulation
• dental hygienists