The House Committee on Energy and Commerce requested the Government Accountability Office to investigate the state of consolidation and vertical integration in the dental insurance industry.
The committee is asking for a study to look into the impact that consolidation and vertical integration have on both consumers and healthcare providers, according to a Feb. 6 news release from the American Dental Association.
The research would examine how closely aligned and integrated the providers of dental and vision insurance are with payers and whether the current structure would allow companies to evade existing laws and regulations. The results of the study would also illustrate whether there is a sufficient way to enforce and address concerns.
The study was requested by the Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Subcommittee on Health Chair Brett Guthrie, the release said.