MA S504

Bill

Relative to dental benefit plan transparency and patients' Bill of Rights

Introduced
01/23/2017

In Committee
01/23/2017

Crossed Over

Passed

Dead
12/31/2018

Introduced Session

190th General Court

Bill Summary

For legislation relative to dental benefit plan transparency and patients' Bill of Rights. Financial Services.

AI Summary

This bill aims to introduce greater transparency and patient protections in dental benefit plans. It establishes a new chapter in state law (Chapter 176V) that defines key terms, including "carrier" (insurers, non-profit medical service corporations, dental service corporations, etc.), and applies to most dental benefit plans issued or renewed after April 1, 2017. The bill requires the Division of Insurance to issue regulations defining dental service categories and coverage requirements, including 100% coverage for preventive and diagnostic services for individuals 18 and older, and 100% coverage for preventive, diagnostic, and basic restorative services for individuals under 18. It also prohibits annual maximum benefit limits below $1,000 after April 1, 2018, and bans waiting periods for preventive and diagnostic services. Additionally, the bill sets requirements for carrier reimbursement methodologies, including a minimum annual increase tied to the New England dental Consumer Price Index, and limits on geographic region-based rate adjustments. It also allows insured individuals to direct their dental benefits to be paid directly to non-contracted dentists who meet credentialing criteria.

Committee Categories

Business and Industry

Sponsors (8)

Mike Barrett (D), Harriette Chandler (D), David DeCoste (R), Paul Frost (R), Barbara L'Italien (D), Patrick O'Connor (R), Kathleen O'Connor Ives (D), John Scibak (D),

Last Action

Accompanied a study order, see S2496 (on 04/30/2018)

Official Document

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/190/S504

(16 Companion Bills)

Version:

Document Type	Source Location
State Bill Page	https://malegislature.gov/Bills/190/S504
Bill	https://malegislature.gov/Bills/190/S504.pdf

Bill	Bill Name	Last Action	Type
H149	Establishing the Massachusetts travelers bill of rights	Accompanied a study order, see H4638	Similar To
H2467	Providing access to patient protection services for all Massachusetts residents	Accompanied a study order, see H4625	Similar To
H3230	Clarifying patient safety procedures	Accompanied a study order, see H4625	Similar To
H4112	Relative to patient safety and hospital transparency	No further action taken	Similar To
H4113	Relative to patient safety and hospital transparency	No further action taken	Similar To
H695	Providing a homeless bill of rights	No further action taken	Similar To
S1167	Relative to safe patient handling in certain health facilities	Accompanied H1144	Similar To
S1169	Authorizing dental therapists to expand access to oral health	Accompanied a new draft, see H4454	Similar To
S1176	Making technical changes to the Betsy Lehman Center for Patient Safety and Medical Error Reduction enabling statute	House concurred	Similar To
S129	Establishing a student loan bill of rights	New draft substituted, see S2380	Similar To
S2150	Similar Bills	See S3	Similar To
S2380	Establishing a student loan bill of rights	Reprinted as amended, see S2421	Similar To
S2496	Order relative to authorizing the joint committee on Financial Services to make an investigation and study of certain current Senate documents relative to financial services issues	Discharged to the committee on Senate Rules	Replaced by
S46	Creating a Bill of Rights for people experiencing homelessness	Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Senate Ways and Means	Similar To
S622	To provide access to patient protection for all Massachusetts citizens	Accompanied a study order, see S2535	Similar To
S783	Improving medical decision making	Accompanied a study order, see S2313	Similar To

Bill > S504

MA S504

summary

Introduced Session

Bill Summary

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Sponsors (8)

Last Action

Official Document

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