CA AB371

Requires dental plans and insurers to pay noncontracting dental providers directly for covered services when the provider submits a written assignment of benefits form signed by the enrollee, with providers required to disclose their out-of-network status and estimated costs beforehand

Reduces dental appointment wait time standards: urgent appointments must be offered within 48 hours (down from 72), nonurgent appointments within 18 business days (down from 36), and preventive care appointments within 20 business days (down from 40)

Requires dental plans and insurers to provide predetermination or prior authorization to dental providers and prohibits reimbursing less than that amount, except in cases of fraud, billing error, or loss of coverage

Mandates that dentists be available pursuant to existing regulatory geographic accessibility standards, and requires plans and insurers to report comprehensive information about dental provider networks, including covered lives per line of business

Requires the Department of Managed Health Care and Department of Insurance to review the adequacy of entire dental provider networks, including portions serving plans not regulated by their respective department