SB 173 Summary

• Prohibits dental and vision insurers from requiring dentists and optometrists to accept payment amounts limited or set by the insurer unless the services are covered services under the policy
• Prohibits dentists and optometrists from charging for noncovered services an amount exceeding their usual and customary charges for those services
• Requires that discount reductions cannot result in charges below the reimbursement that would be available under the policy absent contractual limitations like deductibles, copayments, or coinsurance
• Mandates that reimbursement for covered services must be reasonable and cannot be so small that services cannot reasonably be considered covered
• Applies to insurance agreements and health maintenance organization contracts entered into, renewed, or modified after June 30, 2017, with an effective date of July 1, 2017