CA AB1579

Requires health care service plans and health insurers that pay contracting dental providers directly to also pay noncontracting dental providers directly when the provider submits a written assignment of benefits signed by the enrollee or insured.

Mandates noncontracting dental providers disclose they are out-of-network prior to treatment and provide written notice of estimated treatment costs and patient cost responsibility before accepting assignment of benefits.

Requires health plans and insurers to provide cost estimates to providers within three business days of request and mandates notices be available in the two largest non-English languages spoken by at least 5 percent of the provider's patients.

Limits provider collection to the enrollee's or insured's estimated cost and requires refund of any overpayments within 30 business days after receiving direct payment from the plan or insurer.

Applies only to preferred provider organization plans, point-of-service plans, or other plans providing out-of-network coverage under health care service plans, and to health insurance policies providing alternative rates of payment.