Nevada State Sen. Heidi Seevers Gansert filed a bill that would require dental insurers in the state to spend premium dollars on patient dental care, NBC affiliate News4 reported Dec. 9.
Five things to know:
1. The bill would require dental insurance companies to spend at least 80 percent of money collected from patients on dental care. If companies do not meet this requirement, they must refund the difference to patients.
2. Under the bill, Nevada's insurance commissioner would approve proposed rates for dental plans. The state Division of Insurance would also publish a list of payers that are in and out of compliance.
3. The initiative is inspired by a recent law established in Massachusetts that created a first-of-its-kind medical loss ratio for dental insurers in the state.
4. In a November ADA poll, 83 percent of dentists indicated they support requiring dental plans in their state to spend a percentage of premiums they collect on dental care for subscribers. Forty-two percent also said they were very likely to participate or already are participating in efforts to establish medical loss ratios in their states.
5. Nevada's next legislative session begins Feb. 6.