Regards dental benefit plans

HB 845 establishes new definitions and regulations for dental benefit plans and the providers who deliver services under them. The bill clarifies terms such as "contracting entity," "dental service contractor," and "prior authorization" to ensure consistent understanding across the industry. It also sets specific rules for how dental plans must handle payments to dentists, particularly regarding the use of electronic funds transfers and credit card payments that may incur fees. Under this legislation, plans must inform dentists of any associated fees, offer alternative payment methods without charges, and obtain written consent before switching to a fee-based payment system. Additionally, the bill outlines conditions under which a previously approved dental procedure can be denied or modified, such as when a patient's medical condition changes or if fraud is suspected.