An Act To Prohibit Health Care Entities Providing Dental Plans From Requiring Dentists To Charge Fees For Uncovered Services

132nd Legislature (2025-2026)

Bars dental plan entities from requiring dentists to charge patients for uncovered services, preserving provider billing discretion and reducing patient fees.

Signed by Governor

#dental #fees #insurance

Summary — LD 1800 (2025)

Title: An Act To Prohibit Health Care Entities Providing Dental Plans From Requiring Dentists To Charge Fees For Uncovered Services
Status: Signed by the Governor (6/12/2025)
Introduced: 4/24/2025
Committee: Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services
Classification/Subjects: bill — Dental, fees, Insurance

Purpose / Intent

The bill prohibits health care entities that provide dental plans (for example, insurers or plan administrators) from contractually requiring dental providers to charge patients fees for dental services that are not covered by the dental plan. The primary aim is to preserve a dentist’s discretion in billing for uncovered services and to protect patients from contractual arrangements that would compel additional charges.

Key provisions

Bars health care entities offering dental plans from including contract terms that force dental providers to charge fees to patients for services that are not covered by the plan.

Applies to contractual relationships between dental plan sponsors/administrators and dental providers.

Enacted as amended — Committee Amendment “A” (H‑546) was adopted during the legislative process; the bill was passed and signed in the amended form.

(Note: The full statutory text of the enacted provision is not included here — consult the final enrolled law for exact wording and any defined terms.)

Who is affected

Dental providers (dentists): Gain protection from contractual clauses that would require them to bill patients for services outside plan coverage; retain discretion whether to charge, waive, or adjust fees for uncovered services.

Dental insurers and plan administrators: Must remove or refrain from imposing contractual requirements that compel providers to charge patients for uncovered services; may need to revise provider agreement language and administrative practices.

Patients/enrollees: Potentially benefit from increased provider autonomy and reduced risk of being forced to pay fees compelled by plan-provider contracts.

Fiscal and procedural notes

Fiscal impact: The legislative fiscal notes for both committee versions indicate “No fiscal impact.”

Legislative timeline: Introduced 4/24/2025; work session 5/15/2025; OTP‑AM recommended 5/15/2025; Committee Amendment A adopted 6/9/2025; passed to be enacted 6/10/2025; signed by Governor 6/12/2025.

Effective date: Not specified in the materials provided. Consult the enacted law or the Secretary of State for the statutory effective date.

For exact legal language and implementation details, refer to the enrolled bill as signed into law and any administrative guidance issued to insurers or providers.