Dental hygienists in West Virginia could be authorized to provide tobacco cessation services under a new bill, WV Public Broadcasting reported Jan. 25.
Senate Bill 357 puts these services within dental hygienists' scope of practice because of the negative effects tobacco use can have on dental health.
The American Lung Association recently reported that West Virginia ranks the lowest for tobacco prevention funding and access to tobacco cessation services, the news station reported.
The bill was unanimously approved by the state Senate Jan. 24 and now goes for a vote before the state's House of Delegates.