Bill Text: AZ SB1138 | 2020 | Fifty-fourth Legislature 2nd Regular | Engrossed


Bill Title: Dental insurance transparency study committee

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2020-03-09 - House read second time [SB1138 Detail]

Download: Arizona-2020-SB1138-Engrossed.html

 

 

 

Senate Engrossed

 

 

 

 

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-fourth Legislature

Second Regular Session

2020

 

 

 

SENATE BILL 1138

 

 

 

AN ACT

 

establishing the dental insurance transparency study committee.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 


Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1.  Dental insurance transparency study committee; membership; duties; delayed repeal

A.  The dental insurance transparency study committee is established consisting of the following members:

1.  Three members of the senate not more than two of whom are members of the same political party and who are appointed by the president of the senate. The president of the senate shall designate one of these members to serve as chairperson of the committee.

2.  The director of the department of insurance and financial institutions or the director's designee.

3.  A person who serves on the state board of dental examiners.

4.  Two persons who are licensed in this state to provide dental services directly to patients, whose primary business location is in a county with a population of nine hundred thousand or more persons and who are appointed by the president of the senate. 

5.  A person who is licensed in this state to provide dental services directly to patients, whose primary business location is in a county with a population of fewer than nine hundred thousand persons and who is appointed by the president of the senate.

6.  A representative of an organization that is engaged in supporting health and dental insurance businesses in this state who is appointed by the president of the senate. 

7.  A representative of a dental service corporation that provides services within this state who is appointed by the president of the senate.

8.  A representative of an insurer or a dental service corporation who is appointed by the president of the senate. 

B.  The study committee shall do all of the following:

1.  Review the current and future availability and use by dentists, health care plans and dental service corporations of interactive systems for patients and dentists to confirm enrollment, determine benefits and manage claims with a dental service corporation or insurer.

2.  Analyze the current practices of benefit predeterminations and prior authorization requests for dental benefits and services and review barriers to efficient claims handling and appropriate payment of benefits.

3.  Assess the handling of overpayments to dentists by state regulated dental insurers within practice groups.

4.  Review other issues that will improve the access to dental care and cost- effective dental insurance. 

C.  The study committee may hold hearings, conduct factfinding tours, request data from the department of insurance and financial institutions and take testimony from witnesses who may assist the study committee in fulfilling its responsibilities. All hearings of the study committee shall be open to the public. 

D.  The legislature and the department of insurance and financial institutions shall provide staff and support services to the study committee. 

E.  Study committee members are not eligible to receive compensation but are eligible for reimbursement of expenses pursuant to title 38, chapter 4, article 2, Arizona Revised Statutes.

F.  On or before November 1, 2020, the study committee shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the governor, the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives and provide a copy of this report to the secretary of state. 

G.  This section is repealed from and after December 31, 2020.

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