HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1916        FILED ON: 2/12/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2358

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Marc T. Lombardo

_________________

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 dental service quotes.

_______________

PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1916        FILED ON: 2/12/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2358

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)

_______________

An Act relative to dental service quotes.

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

Chapter 111 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 228 the following section:-

Section 228½. (a) As used in this section, the following terms shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:-

“Board”, the board of registration in dentistry established pursuant to section 19 of chapter 13.

“Dental services”, diagnostic, preventative or corrective treatment of the teeth and associated structures of the oral cavity, including, but not limited to, oral surgery and the provision of orthodontia and prostheses.

“Dental services provider”, a provider of dental services, including, but not limited to, a dentist registered by the board pursuant to section 45 of chapter 112, a dental hygienist registered by the board pursuant to section 51 of said chapter 112, a dental assistant register by the board pursuant to section 51½ of said chapter 112 or an oral and maxillofacial surgeon certified by the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.

(b) Upon request by a patient or prospective patient, a dental services provider shall provide a quote of the costs associated with any dental services prior to performing any dental services; provided, however, that if a patient or prospective patient schedules a series of procedures or services as part of a continued course of treatment, the patient or prospective patient may waive the requirement to receive such quote from the dental services provider for that course of treatment.

(c) If a dental services provider completes any dental services without providing the patient with a quote pursuant to subsection (b), the patient may file a complaint with the board. Upon receipt of a complaint pursuant to this section, the board shall conduct an investigation into whether the completed dental services were medically necessary. If, as a result of such investigation, the board has reasonable cause to believe that the completed dental services were not medically necessary, it shall file a written report of the violation with the attorney general who shall, within 3 months following receipt of such report, notify the board in writing of the action taken with respect to such violation.