Legislation Prohibits Insurance Companies Control Over Fees Charged

Some 35 states have passed new legislation that no longer allows insurers to require dental providers to give discount for services not covered under an insured dental plan.  Listed below are the states that have passed this legislation and the link to the document source. https://wf.employeebenefitservice.com/wps/wcm/connect/Storefronts/obc/1398878240638

State Effective Date
ALABAMA 9/1/2015
ALASKA 9/13/2010
ARKANSAS 3/22/2011
ARIZONA 1/1/2011
CALIFORNIA 1/1/2011
CONNECTICUT 1/1/2012
FLORIDA 7/1/2014
GEORGIA 7/1/2011
IDAHO 7/1/2010
ILLINOIS 1/1/2013
IOWA 7/1/2010
KANSAS 7/1/2010
KENTUCKY 7/11/2012
LOUISIANA 1/1/2011
MARYLAND 10/1/2011
MINNESOTA 8/1/2011
MISSISSIPPI 7/1/2010
MISSOURI 8/28/2013
MONTANA 7/1/2013
NEBRASKA 7/19/2012
NEW MEXICO 4/7/2011
NEW JERSEY 11/28/2014
NORTH CAROLINA 7/21/2010
NORTH DAKOTA 8/11/2011
OKLAHOMA 11/1/2010
OREGON 3/18/2010
PENNSYLVANIA 12/24/2012
RHODE ISLAND 6/18/2009
SOUTH DAKOTA 7/1/2010
TENNESSEE 5/23/2011
TEXAS 9/1/2011
VIRGINIA 7/1/2010
WASHINGTON 6/10/2010
WISCONSIN 1/1/2014
WYOMING 7/1/2011

Talking to patients in regards to the new legislation when it becomes apparent that their out of pocket expenses will increase due to the loss of the discounts or write-off adjustments for certain dental procedures makes the dental staff nervous.  The patient’s employers may experience more complaints due to employee dissatisfaction at increased costs for non-covered services.  Patients may opt not to have the service performed if there isn’t a required discount or their insurance company declines to participate in the costs of services that their dental provider recommends.

There are pros and cons in this scenario for dentists as the rulings affect patients purchasing power.

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