HB 1605 - Dental Payments under Health Insurance Plans

• Prohibits health insurers, group health insurers, prepaid limited health service organizations, and health maintenance organizations from requiring credit card as the only acceptable payment method to dentists.

• Requires insurers to notify dentists of any fees associated with payment methods and provide clear instructions on selecting alternative payment methods when initiating or changing to electronic funds transfers or virtual credit card payments.

• Prohibits insurers from charging fees solely to transmit payments through the Automated Clearing House network unless the dentist consents, though dentist's agents may charge reasonable fees for value-added services like transaction management and portal services.

• Prevents insurers from denying prior-authorized dental claims except in specific circumstances including benefit limitations, changed medical necessity, patient ineligibility, duplicate payments, insufficient documentation, or fraudulent claims.

• Takes effect July 1, 2023 and makes all provisions non-waivable by contract, with enforcement by the state insurance commission.