Bill Amendment: IL SB0750 | 2015-2016 | 99th General Assembly
NOTE: For additional amemendments please see the Bill Drafting List
Bill Title: INSURANCE-DENTAL SERVICE PLANS
Status: 2015-08-10 - Public Act . . . . . . . . . 99-0329 [SB0750 Detail]
Download: Illinois-2015-SB0750-Senate_Amendment_002.html
Bill Title: INSURANCE-DENTAL SERVICE PLANS
Status: 2015-08-10 - Public Act . . . . . . . . . 99-0329 [SB0750 Detail]
Download: Illinois-2015-SB0750-Senate_Amendment_002.html
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| 1 | AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 750
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| 2 | AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend Senate Bill 750, AS AMENDED, by | ||||||
| 3 | replacing everything after the enacting clause with:
| ||||||
| 4 | "Section 5. The Illinois Insurance Code is amended by | ||||||
| 5 | changing Section 355a as follows:
| ||||||
| 6 | (215 ILCS 5/355a) (from Ch. 73, par. 967a)
| ||||||
| 7 | Sec. 355a. Standardization of terms and coverage.
| ||||||
| 8 | (1) The purpose of this Section shall be (a) to provide
| ||||||
| 9 | reasonable standardization and simplification of terms and | ||||||
| 10 | coverages of
individual accident and health insurance policies | ||||||
| 11 | to facilitate public
understanding and comparisons; (b) to | ||||||
| 12 | eliminate provisions contained in
individual accident and | ||||||
| 13 | health insurance policies which may be
misleading or | ||||||
| 14 | unreasonably confusing in connection either with the
purchase | ||||||
| 15 | of such coverages or with the settlement of claims; and (c) to
| ||||||
| 16 | provide for reasonable disclosure in the sale of accident and | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | health
coverages.
| ||||||
| 2 | (2) Definitions applicable to this Section are as follows:
| ||||||
| 3 | (a) "Policy" means all or any part of the forms | ||||||
| 4 | constituting the
contract between the insurer and the | ||||||
| 5 | insured, including the policy,
certificate, subscriber | ||||||
| 6 | contract, riders, endorsements, and the
application if | ||||||
| 7 | attached, which are subject to filing with and approval
by | ||||||
| 8 | the Director.
| ||||||
| 9 | (b) "Service corporations" means
voluntary health and | ||||||
| 10 | dental
corporations organized and operating respectively | ||||||
| 11 | under
the Voluntary Health Services Plans Act and
the | ||||||
| 12 | Dental Service Plan Act.
| ||||||
| 13 | (c) "Accident and health insurance" means insurance | ||||||
| 14 | written under
Article XX of the Insurance Code, other than | ||||||
| 15 | credit accident and health
insurance, and coverages | ||||||
| 16 | provided in subscriber contracts issued by
service | ||||||
| 17 | corporations. For purposes of this Section such service
| ||||||
| 18 | corporations shall be deemed to be insurers engaged in the | ||||||
| 19 | business of
insurance.
| ||||||
| 20 | (3) The Director shall issue such rules as he shall deem | ||||||
| 21 | necessary
or desirable to establish specific standards, | ||||||
| 22 | including standards of
full and fair disclosure that set forth | ||||||
| 23 | the form and content and
required disclosure for sale, of | ||||||
| 24 | individual policies of accident and
health insurance, which | ||||||
| 25 | rules and regulations shall be in addition to
and in accordance | ||||||
| 26 | with the applicable laws of this State, and which may
cover but | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | shall not be limited to: (a) terms of renewability; (b)
initial | ||||||
| 2 | and subsequent conditions of eligibility; (c) non-duplication | ||||||
| 3 | of
coverage provisions; (d) coverage of dependents; (e) | ||||||
| 4 | pre-existing
conditions; (f) termination of insurance; (g) | ||||||
| 5 | probationary periods; (h)
limitation, exceptions, and | ||||||
| 6 | reductions; (i) elimination periods; (j)
requirements | ||||||
| 7 | regarding replacements; (k) recurrent conditions; and (l)
the | ||||||
| 8 | definition of terms including but not limited to the following:
| ||||||
| 9 | hospital, accident, sickness, injury, physician, accidental | ||||||
| 10 | means, total
disability, partial disability, nervous disorder, | ||||||
| 11 | guaranteed renewable,
and non-cancellable.
| ||||||
| 12 | The Director may issue rules that specify prohibited policy
| ||||||
| 13 | provisions not otherwise specifically authorized by statute | ||||||
| 14 | which in the
opinion of the Director are unjust, unfair or | ||||||
| 15 | unfairly discriminatory to
the policyholder, any person | ||||||
| 16 | insured under the policy, or beneficiary.
| ||||||
| 17 | (4) The Director shall issue such rules as he shall deem | ||||||
| 18 | necessary
or desirable to establish minimum standards for | ||||||
| 19 | benefits under each
category of coverage in individual accident | ||||||
| 20 | and health policies, other
than conversion policies issued | ||||||
| 21 | pursuant to a contractual conversion
privilege under a group | ||||||
| 22 | policy, including but not limited to the
following categories: | ||||||
| 23 | (a) basic hospital expense coverage; (b) basic
| ||||||
| 24 | medical-surgical expense coverage; (c) hospital confinement | ||||||
| 25 | indemnity
coverage; (d) major medical expense coverage; (e) | ||||||
| 26 | disability income
protection coverage; (f) accident only | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | coverage; and (g) specified
disease or specified accident | ||||||
| 2 | coverage.
| ||||||
| 3 | Nothing in this subsection (4) shall preclude the issuance | ||||||
| 4 | of any
policy which combines two or more of the categories of | ||||||
| 5 | coverage
enumerated in subparagraphs (a) through (f) of this | ||||||
| 6 | subsection.
| ||||||
| 7 | No policy shall be delivered or issued for delivery in this | ||||||
| 8 | State
which does not meet the prescribed minimum standards for | ||||||
| 9 | the categories
of coverage listed in this subsection unless the | ||||||
| 10 | Director finds that
such policy is necessary to meet specific | ||||||
| 11 | needs of individuals or groups
and such individuals or groups | ||||||
| 12 | will be adequately informed that such
policy does not meet the | ||||||
| 13 | prescribed minimum standards, and such policy
meets the | ||||||
| 14 | requirement that the benefits provided therein are reasonable
| ||||||
| 15 | in relation to the premium charged. The standards and criteria | ||||||
| 16 | to be
used by the Director in approving such policies shall be | ||||||
| 17 | included in the
rules required under this Section with as much | ||||||
| 18 | specificity as
practicable.
| ||||||
| 19 | The Director shall prescribe by rule the method of | ||||||
| 20 | identification of
policies based upon coverages provided.
| ||||||
| 21 | (5) (a) In order to provide for full and fair disclosure in | ||||||
| 22 | the
sale of individual accident and health insurance policies, | ||||||
| 23 | no such
policy shall be delivered or issued for delivery in | ||||||
| 24 | this State unless
the outline of coverage described in | ||||||
| 25 | paragraph (b) of this subsection
either accompanies the policy, | ||||||
| 26 | or is delivered to the applicant at the
time the application is | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | made, and an acknowledgment signed by the
insured, of receipt | ||||||
| 2 | of delivery of such outline, is provided to the
insurer. In the | ||||||
| 3 | event the policy is issued on a basis other than that
applied | ||||||
| 4 | for, the outline of coverage properly describing the policy | ||||||
| 5 | must
accompany the policy when it is delivered and such outline | ||||||
| 6 | shall clearly
state that the policy differs, and to what | ||||||
| 7 | extent, from that for which
application was originally made. | ||||||
| 8 | All policies, except single premium
nonrenewal policies, shall | ||||||
| 9 | have a notice prominently printed on the
first page of the | ||||||
| 10 | policy or attached thereto stating in substance, that
the | ||||||
| 11 | policyholder shall have the right to return the policy within | ||||||
| 12 | 10 days of its delivery and to have the premium refunded if | ||||||
| 13 | after
examination of the policy the policyholder is not | ||||||
| 14 | satisfied for any
reason.
| ||||||
| 15 | (b) The Director shall issue such rules as he shall deem | ||||||
| 16 | necessary
or desirable to prescribe the format and content of | ||||||
| 17 | the outline of
coverage required by paragraph (a) of this | ||||||
| 18 | subsection. "Format" means
style, arrangement, and overall | ||||||
| 19 | appearance, including such items as the
size, color, and | ||||||
| 20 | prominence of type and the arrangement of text and
captions. | ||||||
| 21 | "Content" shall include without limitation thereto,
statements | ||||||
| 22 | relating to the particular policy as to the applicable
category | ||||||
| 23 | of coverage prescribed under subsection 4; principal benefits;
| ||||||
| 24 | exceptions, reductions and limitations; and renewal | ||||||
| 25 | provisions,
including any reservation by the insurer of a right | ||||||
| 26 | to change premiums.
Such outline of coverage shall clearly | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | state that it constitutes a
summary of the policy issued or | ||||||
| 2 | applied for and that the policy should
be consulted to | ||||||
| 3 | determine governing contractual provisions.
| ||||||
| 4 | (c) Without limiting the generality of paragraph (b) of | ||||||
| 5 | this subsection (5), no qualified health plans shall be offered | ||||||
| 6 | for sale directly to consumers through the health insurance | ||||||
| 7 | marketplace operating in the State in accordance with Sections | ||||||
| 8 | 1311 and
1321 of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable | ||||||
| 9 | Care Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-148), as amended by the | ||||||
| 10 | federal Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 | ||||||
| 11 | (Public Law 111-152), and any amendments thereto, or | ||||||
| 12 | regulations or guidance issued thereunder (collectively, "the | ||||||
| 13 | Federal Act"), unless the following information is made | ||||||
| 14 | available to the consumer at the time he or she is comparing | ||||||
| 15 | policies and their premiums: | ||||||
| 16 | (i) With respect to prescription drug benefits, the | ||||||
| 17 | most recently published formulary where a consumer can view | ||||||
| 18 | in one location covered prescription drugs; information on | ||||||
| 19 | tiering and the cost-sharing structure for each tier; and | ||||||
| 20 | information about how a consumer can obtain specific | ||||||
| 21 | copayment amounts or coinsurance percentages for a | ||||||
| 22 | specific qualified health plan before enrolling in that | ||||||
| 23 | plan. This information shall clearly identify the | ||||||
| 24 | qualified health plan to which it applies. | ||||||
| 25 | (ii) The most recently published provider directory | ||||||
| 26 | where a consumer can view the provider network that applies | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | to each qualified health plan and information about each | ||||||
| 2 | provider, including location, contact information, | ||||||
| 3 | specialty, medical group, if any, any institutional | ||||||
| 4 | affiliation, and whether the provider is accepting new | ||||||
| 5 | patients at each of the specific locations listing the | ||||||
| 6 | provider. Providers shall notify qualified health plans | ||||||
| 7 | electronically or in writing of any changes to their | ||||||
| 8 | information as listed in the provider directory. Qualified | ||||||
| 9 | health plans shall update their directories in a manner | ||||||
| 10 | consistent with the information provided by the provider | ||||||
| 11 | within 10 business days after being notified of the change | ||||||
| 12 | by the provider. Nothing in this paragraph (ii) shall void | ||||||
| 13 | any contractual relationship between the provider and the | ||||||
| 14 | plan. The information shall clearly identify the qualified | ||||||
| 15 | health plan to which it applies. | ||||||
| 16 | (d) Each company that offers qualified health plans for | ||||||
| 17 | sale directly to consumers through the health insurance | ||||||
| 18 | marketplace operating in the State shall make the information | ||||||
| 19 | in paragraph (c) of this subsection (5), for each qualified | ||||||
| 20 | health plan that it offers, available and accessible to the | ||||||
| 21 | general public on the company's Internet website and through | ||||||
| 22 | other means for individuals without access to the Internet. | ||||||
| 23 | (e) The Department shall ensure that State-operated | ||||||
| 24 | Internet websites, in addition to the Internet website for the | ||||||
| 25 | health insurance marketplace established in this State in | ||||||
| 26 | accordance with the Federal Act, prominently provide links to | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | Internet-based materials and tools to help consumers be | ||||||
| 2 | informed purchasers of health insurance. | ||||||
| 3 | (f) Nothing in this Section shall be interpreted or | ||||||
| 4 | implemented in a manner not consistent with the Federal Act. | ||||||
| 5 | This Section shall apply to all qualified health plans offered | ||||||
| 6 | for sale directly to consumers through the health insurance | ||||||
| 7 | marketplace operating in this State for any coverage year | ||||||
| 8 | beginning on or after January 1, 2015. | ||||||
| 9 | (6) Prior to the issuance of rules pursuant to this | ||||||
| 10 | Section, the
Director shall afford the public, including the | ||||||
| 11 | companies affected
thereby, reasonable opportunity for | ||||||
| 12 | comment. Such rulemaking is subject
to the provisions of the | ||||||
| 13 | Illinois Administrative Procedure Act.
| ||||||
| 14 | (7) When a rule has been adopted, pursuant to this Section, | ||||||
| 15 | all
policies of insurance or subscriber contracts which are not | ||||||
| 16 | in
compliance with such rule shall, when so provided in such | ||||||
| 17 | rule, be
deemed to be disapproved as of a date specified in | ||||||
| 18 | such rule not less
than 120 days following its effective date, | ||||||
| 19 | without any further or
additional notice other than the | ||||||
| 20 | adoption of the rule.
| ||||||
| 21 | (8) When a rule adopted pursuant to this Section so | ||||||
| 22 | provides, a
policy of insurance or subscriber contract which | ||||||
| 23 | does not comply with
the rule shall not less than 120 days from | ||||||
| 24 | the effective date of such
rule, be construed, and the insurer | ||||||
| 25 | or service corporation shall be
liable, as if the policy or | ||||||
| 26 | contract did comply with the rule.
| ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | (9) Violation of any rule adopted pursuant to this Section | ||||||
| 2 | shall be
a violation of the insurance law for purposes of | ||||||
| 3 | Sections 370 and 446 of
the Insurance Code.
| ||||||
| 4 | (Source: P.A. 98-1035, eff. 8-25-14.)
| ||||||
| 5 | Section 10. The Dental Care Patient Protection Act is | ||||||
| 6 | amended by changing Section 25 as follows:
| ||||||
| 7 | (215 ILCS 109/25)
| ||||||
| 8 | Sec. 25. Provision of information.
| ||||||
| 9 | (a) A managed care dental plan shall provide upon request | ||||||
| 10 | to
prospective enrollees a written summary description of all | ||||||
| 11 | of the following
terms of
coverage:
| ||||||
| 12 | (1) Information about the dental plan, including how | ||||||
| 13 | the plan operates and
what general types of financial | ||||||
| 14 | arrangements exist between dentists and the
plan. Nothing | ||||||
| 15 | in this Section shall require disclosure of any specific
| ||||||
| 16 | financial arrangements between providers and the plan.
| ||||||
| 17 | (2) The service area.
| ||||||
| 18 | (3) Covered benefits, exclusions, or limitations.
| ||||||
| 19 | (4) Pre-certification requirements including any | ||||||
| 20 | requirements for
referrals
made by primary care dentists to | ||||||
| 21 | specialists, and other preauthorization
requirements.
| ||||||
| 22 | (5) A list of participating primary care dentists in | ||||||
| 23 | the plan's service
area, including provider address and | ||||||
| 24 | phone number, for an enrollee to evaluate
the managed care | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | dental plan's network access, as well as a phone number by
| ||||||
| 2 | which the prospective enrollee may obtain additional | ||||||
| 3 | information regarding the
provider network including | ||||||
| 4 | participating specialists. However,
a managed care
dental | ||||||
| 5 | plan offering a preferred provider organization ("PPO") | ||||||
| 6 | product
that does not require the enrollee to select a | ||||||
| 7 | primary care dentist shall
only be required to make | ||||||
| 8 | available for inspection to enrollees and
prospective | ||||||
| 9 | enrollees a list of participating dentists in the plan's
| ||||||
| 10 | service area, including whether the provider is accepting | ||||||
| 11 | new patients at each of the specific locations listing the | ||||||
| 12 | provider. Providers shall notify managed care dental plans | ||||||
| 13 | electronically or in writing of any changes to their | ||||||
| 14 | information as listed in the provider directory. Managed | ||||||
| 15 | care dental plans shall update their directories in a | ||||||
| 16 | manner consistent with the information provided by the | ||||||
| 17 | provider within 10 business days after being notified of | ||||||
| 18 | the change by the provider. | ||||||
| 19 | Nothing in this paragraph (5) shall void any | ||||||
| 20 | contractual relationship between the provider and the | ||||||
| 21 | plan.
| ||||||
| 22 | (6) Emergency coverage and benefits.
| ||||||
| 23 | (7) Out-of-area coverages and benefits, if any.
| ||||||
| 24 | (8) The process about how participating dentists are | ||||||
| 25 | selected.
| ||||||
| 26 | (9) The grievance process, including the telephone | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | number to call to
receive information concerning grievance | ||||||
| 2 | procedures.
| ||||||
| 3 | An enrollee shall be provided with an evidence of coverage | ||||||
| 4 | as
required
under the Illinois Insurance Code provisions | ||||||
| 5 | applicable to the managed care
dental plan.
| ||||||
| 6 | (b) An enrollee or prospective enrollee has the right to | ||||||
| 7 | the most current
financial statement filed by the managed care | ||||||
| 8 | dental plan by contacting the
Department of Insurance. The | ||||||
| 9 | Department may charge a reasonable fee
for providing such | ||||||
| 10 | information.
| ||||||
| 11 | (c) The managed care dental plan shall provide to the | ||||||
| 12 | Department, on an
annual basis, a list of all participating | ||||||
| 13 | dentists. Nothing in this Section
shall require a particular | ||||||
| 14 | ratio for any type of provider.
| ||||||
| 15 | (d) If the managed care dental plan uses a capitation | ||||||
| 16 | method of
compensation to its primary care providers | ||||||
| 17 | (dentists), the plan must
establish and follow procedures that | ||||||
| 18 | ensure that:
| ||||||
| 19 | (1) the plan application form includes a space in which | ||||||
| 20 | each enrollee
selects a primary care provider (dentist);
| ||||||
| 21 | (2) if an enrollee who fails to select a primary care | ||||||
| 22 | provider (dentist)
is assigned a primary care provider | ||||||
| 23 | (dentist), the enrollee shall be notified
of
the name and | ||||||
| 24 | location of that primary care provider (dentist); and
| ||||||
| 25 | (3) primary care provider (dentist) to whom an enrollee | ||||||
| 26 | is assigned,
pursuant to item (2), is physically located | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | within a reasonable travel
distance, as established by rule | ||||||
| 2 | adopted by the Director, from the residence or
place of | ||||||
| 3 | employment of the enrollee.
| ||||||
| 4 | (e) Nothing in this Act shall be deemed to require a plan | ||||||
| 5 | to assign an
enrollee to a primary care provider (dentist).
| ||||||
| 6 | (Source: P.A. 91-355, eff. 1-1-00.)
| ||||||
| 7 | Section 15. The Illinois Dental Practice Act is amended by | ||||||
| 8 | changing Sections 44 and 45 as follows:
| ||||||
| 9 | (225 ILCS 25/44) (from Ch. 111, par. 2344)
| ||||||
| 10 | (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2016)
| ||||||
| 11 | Sec. 44. Practice by Corporations Prohibited. Exceptions. | ||||||
| 12 | No corporation
shall practice dentistry or engage therein, or | ||||||
| 13 | hold itself out as being
entitled to practice dentistry, or | ||||||
| 14 | furnish dental services or dentists, or
advertise under or | ||||||
| 15 | assume the title of dentist or dental surgeon or equivalent
| ||||||
| 16 | title, or furnish dental advice for any compensation, or | ||||||
| 17 | advertise or hold
itself out with any other person or alone, | ||||||
| 18 | that it has or owns a dental office
or can furnish dental | ||||||
| 19 | service or dentists, or solicit through itself, or its
agents, | ||||||
| 20 | officers, employees, directors or trustees, dental patronage | ||||||
| 21 | for any
dentist employed by any corporation.
| ||||||
| 22 | Nothing contained in this Act, however, shall:
| ||||||
| 23 | (a) prohibit a corporation from employing a dentist or | ||||||
| 24 | dentists to render
dental services to its employees, | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | provided that such dental services shall
be rendered at no | ||||||
| 2 | cost or charge to the employees;
| ||||||
| 3 | (b) prohibit a corporation or association from | ||||||
| 4 | providing dental services
upon a wholly charitable basis to | ||||||
| 5 | deserving recipients;
| ||||||
| 6 | (c) prohibit a corporation or association from | ||||||
| 7 | furnishing information or
clerical services which can be | ||||||
| 8 | furnished by persons not licensed to practice
dentistry, to | ||||||
| 9 | any dentist when such dentist assumes full responsibility | ||||||
| 10 | for
such information or services;
| ||||||
| 11 | (d) prohibit dental corporations as authorized by the
| ||||||
| 12 | Professional Service Corporation Act, dental associations | ||||||
| 13 | as authorized by
the Professional Association Act, or | ||||||
| 14 | dental limited liability companies as
authorized by the | ||||||
| 15 | Limited Liability Company Act;
| ||||||
| 16 | (e) prohibit dental limited liability partnerships as | ||||||
| 17 | authorized by the
Uniform Partnership Act (1997);
| ||||||
| 18 | (f) prohibit hospitals, public health clinics, | ||||||
| 19 | federally qualified
health centers, or other entities | ||||||
| 20 | specified by rule of the Department from
providing dental | ||||||
| 21 | services; or
| ||||||
| 22 | (g) prohibit dental management service organizations | ||||||
| 23 | from providing
non-clinical business services that do not | ||||||
| 24 | violate the provisions of this
Act.
| ||||||
| 25 | Any corporation violating the provisions of this Section is | ||||||
| 26 | guilty of a
Class A misdemeanor and each day that this Act is | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | violated shall be
considered a separate offense.
| ||||||
| 2 | If a dental management service organization is responsible | ||||||
| 3 | for enrolling the dentist as a provider in managed care plans | ||||||
| 4 | provider networks, it shall provide verification to the managed | ||||||
| 5 | care provider network regarding whether the provider is | ||||||
| 6 | accepting new patients at each of the specific locations | ||||||
| 7 | listing the provider. Providers shall notify dental management | ||||||
| 8 | service organizations electronically or in writing of any | ||||||
| 9 | changes to their information as listed in the provider | ||||||
| 10 | directory. Dental management service organizations shall | ||||||
| 11 | update their directories in a manner consistent with the | ||||||
| 12 | information provided by the provider within 10 business days | ||||||
| 13 | after being notified of the change by the provider. | ||||||
| 14 | Nothing in this Section shall void any contractual | ||||||
| 15 | relationship between the provider and the organization. | ||||||
| 16 | (Source: P.A. 96-328, eff. 8-11-09.)
| ||||||
| 17 | (225 ILCS 25/45) (from Ch. 111, par. 2345)
| ||||||
| 18 | (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2016)
| ||||||
| 19 | Sec. 45. Advertising. The purpose of this Section is to | ||||||
| 20 | authorize and
regulate the advertisement by dentists of | ||||||
| 21 | information which is intended to
provide the public with a | ||||||
| 22 | sufficient basis upon which to make an informed
selection of | ||||||
| 23 | dentists while protecting the public from false or misleading
| ||||||
| 24 | advertisements which would detract from the fair and rational | ||||||
| 25 | selection
process.
| ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | Any dentist may advertise the availability of dental | ||||||
| 2 | services in the
public media or on the premises where such | ||||||
| 3 | dental services are rendered.
Such advertising shall be limited | ||||||
| 4 | to the following information:
| ||||||
| 5 | (a) The dental services available;
| ||||||
| 6 | (b) Publication of the dentist's name, title, office | ||||||
| 7 | hours, address
and telephone;
| ||||||
| 8 | (c) Information pertaining to his or her area of | ||||||
| 9 | specialization, including
appropriate board certification | ||||||
| 10 | or limitation of professional practice;
| ||||||
| 11 | (d) Information on usual and customary fees for routine | ||||||
| 12 | dental services
offered, which information shall include | ||||||
| 13 | notification that fees may be
adjusted due to complications | ||||||
| 14 | or unforeseen circumstances;
| ||||||
| 15 | (e) Announcement of the opening of, change of, absence | ||||||
| 16 | from, or return
to business;
| ||||||
| 17 | (f) Announcement of additions to or deletions from | ||||||
| 18 | professional
dental staff;
| ||||||
| 19 | (g) The issuance of business or appointment cards;
| ||||||
| 20 | (h) Other information about the dentist, dentist's | ||||||
| 21 | practice or the types
of dental services which the dentist | ||||||
| 22 | offers to perform which a reasonable
person might regard as | ||||||
| 23 | relevant in determining whether to seek the
dentist's | ||||||
| 24 | services. However, any advertisement which announces the
| ||||||
| 25 | availability of endodontics, pediatric dentistry,
| ||||||
| 26 | periodontics, prosthodontics, orthodontics and dentofacial | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | orthopedics,
oral and maxillofacial
surgery, or oral and | ||||||
| 2 | maxillofacial radiology by a general dentist or by a
| ||||||
| 3 | licensed specialist who is not
licensed in that specialty | ||||||
| 4 | shall include a disclaimer stating that the
dentist does | ||||||
| 5 | not hold a license in that specialty.
| ||||||
| 6 | Any dental practice with more than one location that | ||||||
| 7 | enrolls its dentist as a participating provider in a managed | ||||||
| 8 | care plan's network must verify electronically or in writing | ||||||
| 9 | whether the provider is accepting new patients at each of the | ||||||
| 10 | specific locations listing the provider. The health plan shall | ||||||
| 11 | remove the provider from the directory in accordance with | ||||||
| 12 | standard practices within 10 business days after being notified | ||||||
| 13 | of the changes by the provider. Nothing in this paragraph shall | ||||||
| 14 | void any contractual relationship between the provider and the | ||||||
| 15 | plan. | ||||||
| 16 | It is unlawful for any dentist licensed under this Act to | ||||||
| 17 | do any of the following:
| ||||||
| 18 | (1) Use claims of superior quality of care to
entice | ||||||
| 19 | the public.
| ||||||
| 20 | (2) Advertise in any way to practice dentistry without | ||||||
| 21 | causing pain.
| ||||||
| 22 | (3) Pay a fee to any dental referral service or other | ||||||
| 23 | third party who
advertises a dental referral service, | ||||||
| 24 | unless all advertising of the dental
referral service makes | ||||||
| 25 | it clear that dentists are paying a fee for that
referral | ||||||
| 26 | service.
| ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | (4) Advertise or offer gifts as an inducement to secure
| ||||||
| 2 | dental
patronage.
Dentists may advertise or offer free | ||||||
| 3 | examinations or free dental services;
it shall be unlawful, | ||||||
| 4 | however, for any dentist to charge a fee to any new
patient | ||||||
| 5 | for any dental service provided at the time that such free
| ||||||
| 6 | examination or free dental services are provided. | ||||||
| 7 | (5) Use the term "sedation dentistry" or similar terms | ||||||
| 8 | in advertising unless the advertising dentist holds a valid | ||||||
| 9 | and current permit issued by the Department to administer | ||||||
| 10 | either general anesthesia, deep sedation, or conscious | ||||||
| 11 | sedation as required under Section 8.1 of this Act.
| ||||||
| 12 | This Act does not authorize the advertising of dental | ||||||
| 13 | services when the
offeror of such services is not a dentist. | ||||||
| 14 | Nor shall the dentist use
statements which contain false, | ||||||
| 15 | fraudulent, deceptive or misleading
material or guarantees of | ||||||
| 16 | success, statements which play upon the vanity or
fears of the | ||||||
| 17 | public, or statements which promote or produce unfair | ||||||
| 18 | competition.
| ||||||
| 19 | A dentist shall be required to keep a copy of all | ||||||
| 20 | advertisements for a
period of 3 years. All advertisements in | ||||||
| 21 | the dentist's possession shall
indicate the accurate date and | ||||||
| 22 | place of publication.
| ||||||
| 23 | The Department shall adopt rules to carry out the intent of | ||||||
| 24 | this Section.
| ||||||
| 25 | (Source: P.A. 97-1013, eff. 8-17-12.)
| ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect January | ||||||
| 2 | 1, 2016.".
| ||||||
