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03/29/2024 02:47 AM
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=H&SPick=20130&cosponId=14409
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House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: March 26, 2014 02:16 PM
From: Representative Karen Boback
To: All House members
Subject: Legislation - Assignment of Dental Benefits
 
In the near future, I plan to introduce legislation requiring all dental insurers to assign benefits directly to providers, at the patient's request, regardless of the provider's participation with the insurer.

Assignment of dental benefits legislation would eliminate financial and administrative burdens for both patients and dentists. Some patients currently cannot choose their dentist based on preference because some insurance companies do not directly pay the non-participating provider and they might not be able to pay for services in advance. Dentists who do not require advanced payment may never be paid for services rendered. This insurance practice unfairly inhibits patients from seeking care from their provider of choice, even though they are paying for a benefit that should be, and can be, applied to any provider, regardless of his or her participation in the patient's insurance plan. Dentists are also impacted because they often sympathize with patients and do not require payment upfront.

By enacting assignment of benefits legislation, Pennsylvania would join 27 states in ensuring that benefit plans are treated as purchased products belonging to the patient. This would help alleviate problems some patients face based on remote geography and situations like divorce or separation. Additionally, with the requirement that insurance companies directly pay dental providers, patients---not the carrier--will have the right to decide where to direct their benefits.

Please join me in co-sponsoring this legislative proposal.



Introduced as HB2263