The California Dental Association has committed to pushing for dental reform after losing its appeal against Delta Dental of California.
The California Dental Association filed a legal action against Delta Dental of California in December 2022, claiming that the insurer was not meeting its obligations to dental providers. The lawsuit challenged the insurer’s network changes, which the CDA said included fee reductions for several providers, increased administrative burdens and reduced value of benefit plans.
A judge ruled in favor of Delta Dental of California and dismissed the case in May 2024, stating that the insurer does not owe fiduciary duties to its member dentists and that the insurer has the right to set or change contractual terms at its discretion, a decision the CDA appealed.
The California Court of Appeal ruled that Delta Dental’s actions do not violate its contractual obligations to dentists and that the insurer’s directors and officers are not legally required to act in the best interests of dentists who participate in its network, according to an Oct. 1 news release.
The CDA said the court’s recent decision underscored the “broken” dental insurance system, adding that the organization will continue its efforts to improve dental plans.
The organization also announced the launch of a working group consisting of dentists from around California dedicated to advocating for dental insurance reform.
