Lawmakers in Louisiana and Rhode Island passed bills that hold dental insurance companies accountable, requiring more specifics on what plans are paying for.
They fall under the category of dental loss ratio bills, which regulate the portion of insurance premiums spent on patient care rather than overhead. Rhode Island and Louisiana join Virginia in passing legislation this year. Arizona, California, Colorado, Maine, Nevada, Massachusetts, New Mexico and Washington adopted DLR laws prior to 2024.
Rhode Island’s bill requires dental insurers to submit specific financial data to the insurance commissioner who will analyze the information and provide a recommendation with respect to a minimum dental loss ratio. Louisiana’s bill provides transparency of patient premium expenditures for dental health care services to help patients better understand their dental insurance products.
In Rhode Island, Senate Bill 2873 requires the commissioner to analyze carriers’ financial data for 2023, 2024 and 2025 and submit a recommendation in 2026 with respect to a minimum dental loss ratio. Carriers are assessed a fee to cover the costs of conducting the analysis. The law also requires the commissioner to provide a recommendation on requiring dental health carriers to offer a full range of comprehensive dental benefit plans, including 100% coverage options.
Source: Rhode Island and Louisiana pass dental loss ratio bills / ADA News