Illinois has passed several bills this year aimed at improving how dental services are provided, reducing billing issues and regulating certain services.
Here are five laws passed by the state this year:
1. The Illinois legislature approved a bill to regulate third party financing in the dental industry. The bill prohibits dentists and employees from filling out or submitting financing applications on behalf of patients. Dental offices are also prohibited from giving patients electronic devices to fill out financing applications, and from advertising third-party financing during patient treatments or in sensitive settings. Lastly, dental offices will be required to provide disclosures on third party financing products to ensure patients are aware.
2. The Illinois State Dental Society and the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulations launched a campaign to educate residents about the risks associated with unlicensed dentistry.
3. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker signed SB 2586 into law in September. The bill amends the Illinois Dental Practice Act to modify the definitions of "patient of record" and "teledentistry". Under the changes, teledentistry in Illinois can only be provided to a patient of record, which requires the dentist providing the care to provide the patient with their name, direct phone number and physical practice address. In addition, a patient who receives services under supervision agreement by a dental hygienist does not need to receive a physical exam from a dentist prior to receiving teledentistry services, as long as the hygienist consults with the dentist before performing teledentistry services. The bill also gives the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation the authority to discipline a dentist for teledentistry violations.
4. Illinois passed House Bill 4789 and Senate Bill 3305. HB 4789 holds insurers liable for their prior authorizations, prohibiting insurers from denying claims submitted in procedures specifically included in a prior authorization, barring certain circumstances. SB 3305 requires insurers to provide coverage for medically necessary treatment for jaw injuries, through both accidents or diseases.
5. The Illinois House of Representatives and Senate passed a bill that would require individuals to visit a dentist within a year of using direct-to-consumer clear aligners. The bill aims to protect consumers by getting their teeth checked for potential undiagnosed conditions before starting clear aligner treatment, as well as having aligner companies uphold a standard of care. The bill allows for a teledentistry visit to be sufficient for a pre-aligner check.