Regards dental benefit plans

136th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Meredith Craig

Sets new standards and consumer protections for Ohio dental benefit plans to improve coverage transparency, access to care, and oversight of insurers and admins.

Referred to committee

#commerce #insurance

Summary of HB 845 (Ohio, 136th General Assembly)

Purpose and intent

HB 845 is a bill relating to dental benefit plans authorized or offered within Ohio. While the specific language of the bill is not provided here, the title indicates that the measure is designed to address regulatory or operational aspects of dental insurance products—potentially including consumer protections, plan design standards, provider obligations, and/or oversight of dental benefit plans.

Key provisions (as typically relevant to dental benefit policy)

Note: The exact text of HB 845 would determine the precise provisions. Based on common themes in bills with similar titles, potential areas the bill might cover include:
- Standards for dental benefit plan coverage, including minimum benefits or covered services.
- Requirements for plan disclosures to consumers (benefit summaries, cost-sharing details, exclusions).
- Rules for network adequacy or provider access to ensure beneficiaries can obtain timely dental care.
- Provisions related to prior authorization, utilization management, or claims adjudication.
- Consumer protections against unfair practices, surprise billing, or balance billing for covered dental services.
- Compliance requirements for insurers, Health Benefit Plans, or third-party administrators offering dental benefits.
- Possible alignment with federal patient protections or state regulatory authority oversight.

Who would be affected

Dental benefit plans and insurers offering coverage within Ohio.

Third-party administrators and benefit managers administering dental plans.

Consumers and insured individuals who purchase or receive dental benefits (patients, insured adults and dependents).

Dental providers (dentists and clinics) who participate in network arrangements or who interact with plan administers for claims and reimbursements.

Employers and plan sponsors that design and offer dental benefits as part of employee benefits packages.

Procedural and timeline considerations

Status: Introduced in May 2026 (HB 845) with Co-sponsor Meredith Craig.

As an introduced measure, the bill would move through the Ohio General Assembly’s committee process, including potential hearings, amendments, and votes in both the House and Senate.

If enacted, the bill would specify effective dates for any new requirements (e.g., compliance deadlines for insurers and plan sponsors, grace periods for disclosures, or transition timelines for network adequacy standards).

Potential impact

Increased transparency for dental benefit plan members regarding coverage, cost-sharing, and limitations.

Enhanced oversight of dental benefit products to promote access to care and fair treatment of enrollees.

Possible changes to operations for insurers and administrators, including administrative workflows, claims processing, and protocol for utilization management.

Implications for dental providers in terms of reimbursement processes and network participation.

If you can provide the actual text or specific sections of HB 845, I can produce a more precise, section-by-section summary with exact provisions, definitions, definitions of terms, dates, and any notable amendments.