304.533.6844 mbrown@wvprn.com

DENTAL LAW

5CSR15

TITLE 5
LEGISLATIVE RULE
BOARD OF DENTISTRY
BOARD OF DENTISTRY RULES FOR DENTAL RECOVERY NETWORKS

§5-15-1. General.

1.1. Scope. — This rule establishes definitions of impairment; guidelines for program elements;
procedures for receipt and use of information of suspected impairment; procedures for intervention and
referral; arrangements for mandatory monitoring, treatment, rehabilitation, post-treatment support and
performance; reports of individual cases to the Board; periodic reporting of statistical information; assurance
of confidentiality of nonpublic information and of the peer review process; and assessment of a fee to be
added to each licensure renewal for operation of dental recovery networks.

1.2. Authority. — W. Va. Code §30-4-6.

1.3. Filing Date. — April 21, 2015

1.4. Effective Date. — June 1, 2015

§5-15-2. Definitions.

2.1. “Committee” means the Board of Directors established to function as a supervisory and advisory
body to the Program.

2.2. “Executive Director” means the administrator or clinical director selected by the Committee to
administer the program.

2.3. “Impairment” means mental illness, chemical dependency, physical illness, or any abnormal
physical or mental condition of a dentist or dental hygienist which threatens a licensee or the safety of
persons of whom are patients of the licensee.

2.4. “Licensee” means a licensed dentist, or licensed dental hygienist.

2.5. “Program or West Virginia Dental Recovery Network (WVDRN)” means the program established
by agreements between impaired dentist and/or hygienist peer review organizations and the Board.

§5-15-3. Dental Recovery Network Agreements.

3.1. Dental Recovery Network Agreements with the Board require the following:

3.1.1. Upon receiving a report or request about possible impairment of a licensee from a licensee
or another interested party, the Executive Director will make contact with the licensee to verify the
information.

3.1.2. If it is determined there is sufficient reason for action, such as behavioral signs, documented
evidence of impairment, and/or drug abuse or diversion, the Executive Director shall encourage the licensee
to present himself or herself to the WVDRN office within 48 hours of initial contact for an interview.

a. If the licensee resists coming in for an interview, the Executive Director shall pursue one
repeat contact.

b. After two unsuccessful interventions within a period not to exceed 14 days, the Executive
Director shall inform the licensee of the program’s intent to close the file and disclose all evidence of
impairment allowed by law to the Board.

3.1.3. After the licensee arrives at the network office, the program’s Executive Director shall
conduct an interview and determine what steps are needed to be taken and will arrange for an appropriate
assessment.

3.1.4. After receiving results of an assessment, the Executive Director shall draft an appropriate
agreement for further assessment, treatment, and monitoring. If a diagnosis of substance abuse or dependence
as per the current edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published by the
American Psychiatric Association is made, the Executive Director shall arrange for further evaluation and
treatment of the licensee to be conducted at a facility or by an individual approved by the program. If there
is insufficient evidence to warrant a diagnosis of substance abuse or dependence, the Executive Director shall
place the file in an inactive status, and destroy the file after 5 years.

3.1.5. The Executive Director shall draw up a final agreement between the licensee and the program
for the licensee to enter into a treatment or other appropriate program. The Executive Director shall work
with the treatment provider to determine the guidelines of treatment and aftercare, and shall consult with the
primary care giver on a regular basis;

3.1.6. The Executive Director shall collect appropriate paper work, as specified in the contract,
regarding treatment progress, group therapy participation, urine and blood analysis, discharge summaries,
etc;

3.1.7. Monitors shall assist the licensee in transition into the workplace by providing information
if requested to the supervisors and co-workers regarding chemical dependency, relapse, and diversion; and

3.1.8. Upon the completion of treatment and rehabilitation, and the expiration of the 5 year recovery
contract, the network shall conclude involvement with the licensee.

§5-15-4. Due Process.

4.1. Any action taken pursuant to a dental recovery network shall afford the licensee all due process
rights enumerated in W. Va. Code §§29A-1-1 et. seq.

§5-15-5. Receipt and Use of Information of Suspected Impairment

5.1. Licensees, family members, and other persons may submit reports containing information
concerning suspected impairment of a licensee to the program.

5.2. Upon receipt of information of a suspected impairment, the program shall initiate an investigation.

5.3. The program may conduct routine inquiries regarding suspected impairments.

5.4. The program may require a licensee suspected of impairment to submit to personal interviews
before any person authorized by the program.

§5-15-6. Intervention and Referral.

6.1. When, following an investigation, the impairment of a licensee is confirmed, the Executive Director
shall cause an intervention to be conducted using specialized techniques designed to assist the licensee in
acknowledging responsibility for dealing with the impairment. The Executive Director shall then refer the
licensee to an appropriate treatment source acceptable to the program.

6.2. The program shall decide the methods and objectives of interventions on a case-by-case basis.

6.3. The program shall arrange and conduct interventions as soon as possible.

6.4. The program shall evaluate treatment sources before making case referrals for treatment.

6.5. The program shall record intervention outcomes including treatment contracts that are elements of
an intervention.

§5-15-7. Monitoring Treatment.

7.1. The program shall monitor a treatment source receiving referrals from it as to the treatment source’s
ability to provide:

7.1.1. adequate medical and non-medical staffing;

7.1.2. appropriate treatment;

7.1.3. affordable treatment;

7.1.4. adequate facilities; and

7.1.5. appropriate post-treatment support.

 

§5-15-8. Monitoring Rehabilitation and Performance.

8.1. The program shall designate monitoring requirements for each licensee participating in the program.
Licensees may be required to be tested regularly or randomly on demand of the program.

8.2. The program may require treatment sources to submit reports regarding a licensee’s rehabilitation
and performance to the program.

8.3. The program may require impaired licensees to submit to periodic personal interviews before any
person authorized by the program.

8.4. The program shall maintain appropriate case records regarding each licensee that is a participant.

§5-15-9. Monitoring Post-Treatment Support.

9.1. Post-treatment support may include family counseling, advocacy and other services and programs
considered appropriate to the licensee’s recovery.

9.2. The program shall monitor the post-treatment support of treatment sources on an ongoing basis.

9.3. The program’s own post-treatment support shall be monitored by the program on an ongoing basis.

§5-15-10. Reports of Cases of Impairment to the Board.

10.1. After investigation and review of a licensee, the program shall report immediately to the Board
detailed information obtained during the investigation.

10.2. The program shall submit quarterly a report to the Board on the status of all licensees involved in
the program who have been previously reported to the Board. The program shall submit a monthly report
to the Board on the status of any licensee previously reported to the Board who is in active treatment until
a time mutually agreed to by the Board and the program.

10.3. In the event the program becomes aware that the licensee has diverted controlled substances to a
person other than himself or herself, the program shall report this infraction to the Board. In this case, the
licensee is not protected by the program’s confidentiality provisions or from disciplinary action by the Board.

§5-15-11. Periodic Reporting of Statistical Information.

11.1. The program shall compile and annually report to the Board comprehensive statistical reports
concerning suspected impairments, impairments, self-referrals, post-treatment support and other significant
demographic and substantive information collected through program operations.

§5-15-12. Confidentiality.

12.1. All information, interviews, reports, statements, memoranda, or other documents furnished to or
produced by the program, all communications to or from the program, and all proceedings, findings, and
conclusions of the program, including those relating to intervention, treatment, or rehabilitation, that in any
way pertain to or refer to a person participating in a dental recovery network are privileged and confidential.

12.2. All records and proceedings of the program that pertain or refer to a person participating in a dental
recovery network shall be privileged and confidential, used by the program and its members only in the
exercise of the proper function of the program, not be considered public records, and not be subject to court
subpoena, discovery, or introduction as evidence in any civil, criminal, or administrative proceedings, except
as provided in subsection 10.1of this rule.

12.3. The program may only disclose the information relative to an impaired licensee if:

12.3.1. it is essential to disclose the information to persons or organizations needing the information
in order to address the intervention, treatment, or rehabilitation needs of the impaired licensee;

12.3.2. the release is authorized in writing by the impaired licensee; or

12.3.3. the program is required to make a report to the board pursuant to subsection 10.1 of this rule.

§5-15-13. Fees.

13.1. The Board shall assess the following fees to be added to each licensure renewal application fee
payable to the Board with any revenue generated by the assessment dedicated to the operation of the dental
recovery network:

13.1.1. Dentist – $10 with each annual renewal;

13.1.2. Dental Hygienist – $5 with each annual renewal.

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