Bill > H3557

This bill aims to increase transparency in the dental benefits industry in Massachusetts. The key provisions are: 1. It establishes a new chapter (Chapter 176V) that requires dental benefit carriers to submit detailed financial information to the Division of Insurance, including information on premiums, claims, administrative expenses, and surplus. This information will be made public and analyzed annually. 2. It gives the Commissioner of Insurance authority to approve and disapprove dental benefit plan rates if they are found to be excessive, inadequate, or discriminatory. 3. It requires carriers that provide administrative services to self-insured groups to report additional information about those groups. 4. It places restrictions on carriers' ability to sell, rent, or grant access to their dental provider networks without first obtaining dentists' consent. This aims to prevent networks from being accessed by third parties without dentists' knowledge. 5. It subjects the contractual agreements between carriers and dentists to greater regulatory oversight, including requiring public hearings on fees paid to dentists. Overall, the bill seeks to increase transparency, accountability, and oversight in the dental benefits market in Massachusetts.

Business and Industry

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/H3557