ORTHO Act

Key Points

• This bill requires patients to see a dentist in person before they can get dental treatments or medical devices through remote services. This includes popular mail-order clear aligners used to straighten teeth. The goal is to make sure a professional checks the patient's health before starting treatment.
• Dentists must use their own clinical judgment rather than relying only on computer programs or algorithms to diagnose a patient's needs. Even if a doctor makes an initial diagnosis online, the patient must still have an in-person visit and X-rays reviewed before they can actually start using any orthodontic tools.
• There are a few exceptions to the in-person rule. Patients can still use teledentistry for emergency care, like sudden pain or infections, or through government-run public health programs. These exceptions ensure people can still get quick help when they are in immediate pain or part of a community health plan.
• The Federal Trade Commission would enforce these rules. If a company breaks the law, it would be treated as a deceptive business practice. State officials could also sue companies on behalf of their residents, seeking at least $1,000 in damages for every single violation.

Impact Analysis

Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.