Question #16 - Ownership of Dental Practice

Only a dentist, along with closely allied licensed healthcare professionals, may own or operate a dental practice.

True

False

For Your Information

13:30-8.13 PERMISSIBLE BUSINESS STRUCTURES, PROHIBITION ON REFERRAL FEES AND FEE SPLITTING

Board regulations state that "Permissible business format" means:

  1. Sole proprietorships;

  2. All partnerships, including limited liability partnerships (comprised of dentists or closely allied health care professionals);

  3. Professional service corporations (comprised of dentists or closely allied health care professionals); and

  4. Limited liability companies (comprised of dentists or closely allied health care professionals).

The same section defines the following words and terms:

"Associate" means a health care professional who is a partner, an employee, a fellow shareholder in a professional service corporation or a fellow member of another permissible practice format, properly organized pursuant to law.

"Closely allied health care professional" means an individual who provides professional services and is licensed to practice by a professional or occupational licensing board or other State agency, in any of the following fields: dentistry, medicine (or its branches), nursing, optometry and physical therapy.