A bill for an act relating to insurance; regulating dental provider contracts and provider audits; amending Minnesota Statutes 2010, sections 62Q.76, by adding a subdivision; 62Q.78, by adding subdivisions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
Section 1.
Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 62Q.76, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 8.Dental provider contract. "Dental provider contract" means a written agreement between a dentist or dental clinic and dental organization to provide dental care services.
Sec.2.
Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 62Q.78, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 4. Contract amendment. An amendment or change in terms of an existing contract between a
dental organization and a dentist must be disclosed to the dentist at least 90 days before the effective date of the proposed change.
Sec. 3.
Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 62Q.78, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 5. Provider audits.
(a) A dental organization that conducts audits of dental providers shall:
- provide a written explanation to the dental provider of the reason for the audit and the process the dental organization intends to use to audit patient charts, as well as a written explanation of the processes available to the provider once the dental organization completes its review of the audited patient records; and
- allow the provider a reasonable period of time from the date that the provider receives the verified audit or investigation findings to review, meet, and negotiate a resolution to the audit or investigation.
(b) If a dental organization conducts a provider audit, the dental organization must use a licensed dentist whose license is in good standing to review patient charts.
Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 62Q.78, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 6. Payment for covered services. (a) No contract of any dental plan or dental organization that covers any dental services or dental provider agreement with a dentist may require, directly or indirectly, that a dentist provide services to an enrolled participant at a fee set by, or at a fee subject to the approval of, the dental plan or dental organization unless the dental services are covered services (b) A dental plan or dental organization or other person providing third-party administrator services shall not make available any providers in its dentist network to a plan that sets dental fees for any services except covered services. (c) "Covered services" means dental care services for which a reimbursement is available under an enrollee's plan contract, or for which a reimbursement would be available but for the application of contractual limitations such as deductibles, co-payments, coinsurance, waiting periods, annual or lifetime maximums, frequency limitations, alternative benefit payments, or any other limitation.
Sec. 5. EFFECTIVE DATE. Sections 1 t0 4 are effective August 1, 2011 and apply to dental plans and provider agreements entered into or renewed on or after that date.
