The California Dental Association has sponsored two bills aimed at dental insurance reform, according to a Feb. 26 news release from the organization.
The CDA said the legislation is intended to give patients and dentists clearer information about coverage, network participation and reimbursement policies.
Here are five things to know about the legislation:
- Assembly Bill 1629 requires dental insurance companies to report provider network information for each dental plan they sell.
- The bill would also require dental plans to honor patients’ assignment-of-benefits requests, allowing patients to receive care from out-of-network dentists and have the dental plan pay the dentist directly.
- AB 1629 is a reintroduction of last year’s Assembly Bill 371 and addresses implementation costs that stalled AB 371.
- Assembly Bill 2029 requires dental plans to make standardized information available through an online portal.
- The portal would include applicable deductibles, coverage eligibility, detailed frequency limitations, waiting periods or other exemptions, which the CDA said would help patients better understand their benefits before receiving care.
