A Washington dentist recently filed a proposed class-action lawsuit accusing Delta Dental of Washington of violating antitrust laws.
The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington. Court documents list Jeffrey Henneberg, DDS, as the plaintiff, alleging that Delta Dental of Washington worked to suppress reimbursement rates paid to dental providers in violation of Washington antitrust law.
Delta Dental of Washington recently requested to move the case to federal court due to it administering dental benefits for federal programs and because the proposed class-action meets requirements under the Class Action Fairness Act.
The lawsuit comes after developments in a federal antitrust lawsuit filed in 2019. The federal case alleges that Delta Dental engaged in several anticompetitive practices within its state subsidiaries, including suppressing reimbursement rates and fixing prices for dental services. The plaintiffs sought class certification for all dental providers who had been reimbursed by Delta Dental since Oct. 11, 2015, but that request was denied by an Illinois federal judge in September, leading providers to seek class certification at the state level in California, Wisconsin, Michigan and Massachusetts earlier this year.
Becker’s has contacted Delta Dental of Washington for comment and will update this article if more information becomes available.
At the Becker's 5th Annual Future of Dentistry Roundtable, taking place September 14-15 in Chicago, dental leaders and executives will gain insights into emerging technologies, practice growth strategies and the evolving landscape of dental care delivery, with a focus on innovation, patient experience and operational excellence. Apply for complimentary registration now.
