HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 249        FILED ON: 1/13/2011

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 323

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

John W. Scibak and Harriette L. Chandler

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to financial services contracts for dental benefits corporations.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 249        FILED ON: 1/13/2011

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 323

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 2562 OF 2009-2010.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Eleven

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An Act relative to financial services contracts for dental benefits corporations.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

Section 108B of Chapter 175 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2008 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting at the end of said section the following sentence:- “No contract for the provision of healthcare services or benefits with a registered dentist may require that such dentist provide dental services to a covered person at a particular fee unless said dental services are services for which the company shall provide payment under the applicable group or individual policy of accident, sickness or health insurance.”

Section 7 of chapter 176B of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2008 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the second paragraph the following paragraph:- “No such agreement may require that a dentist provide dental services to subscribers or their covered dependents at a particular fee unless said dental services are services for which the medical services corporation shall provide reimbursement under the applicable service agreement.”

Section 7 of chapter 176E of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2008 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the second paragraph the following paragraph:- “No written agreement between a dental service corporation and a participating dentist may require that the dentist provide dental services to subscribers or their covered dependents at a particular fee unless said dental services are services for which the dental service corporation shall provide reimbursement under the applicable service agreement.”

Section 21 of chapter 176G of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2008 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after sub-section (d) the following sub-section:- “(e)  No contract between a health maintenance organization and a participating provider who is a registered dentist may require that such dentist provide dental services to a member at a particular fee unless said dental services are services for which the health maintenance organization shall provide reimbursement under the applicable health maintenance contract.”

Section 2 of chapter 176I of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2008 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the first paragraph the following paragraph:- “No preferred provider arrangement with a health care provider who is a registered dentist may require that such dentist provide dental service to a covered person at a particular fee unless said dental services are services for which the organization shall provide reimbursement under the applicable preferred provider arrangement.”