With just over a month remaining in the 2021 session of the State legislature, three significant consumer protections advocated by Connecticut dentists are awaiting action at the State Capitol.

Three consumer-centric bills advocated by the Connecticut State Dental Association (CSDA) were approved unanimously with bipartisan support from the legislature’s Insurance Committee earlier in the session. The three proposals, now awaiting action by the House or Senate, would:

• Respond to the growing trend of network leasing that is causing confusion and difficulties for dentists and their patients. Lack of transparency in network leasing can make it difficult for providers to educate patients about treatment options and the cost of care. Insurance companies can now push dentists off to a different insurance network without the dentist’s knowledge or consent. [HB 6589]
• Extend telehealth services to dental care. Oral health is an important part of overall health, and the CSDA supports increasing access to telehealth services by including licensed dentists in Connecticut’s list of telehealth providers. [SB 1022]
• Permit children, stepchildren and other dependent children to be covered on their parents’ dental insurance until the age of 26. Currently dental coverage is only until age 19, while health coverage is until age 26. This would create parity in the cut-off age for coverage on parents’ policies for health and dental insurance. [SB 1004]

Two bills are awaiting action on the Senate calendar; the third is pending on the House calendar. A date for votes on each legislative proposal has yet to be announced. The Connecticut State Dental Association is urging the legislature to put the three items on the agenda for a vote, and is urging support from House and Senate members for these pro-consumer priorities.

A resounding 92% of Connecticut residents believe it is important for the state to develop a Dental Bill of Rights that would “establish clear, simple and transparent” dental insurance processes, according to a public opinion survey last fall. That is precisely what these three pending pieces of legislation would do.

“Connecticut consumers deserve these protections, and we’re proud to stand with our patients in advocating for these important reforms,” said Dr. Tam Le, president of the CSDA. “These are common sense, pro-consumer protections that focus on predictability, transparency, and public health. We urge the legislature to take the next step and adopt these three bills and send them to Governor Lamont for his signature.”

Network Leasing
The growing trend of network leasing is causing confusion and difficulties for dentists and their patients. Lack of transparency in network leasing - when insurance companies lease their coverage to other providers - makes it difficult to inform patients about treatment options and the anticipated cost of care.

The legislation would assure that dentists know whether they are in network or out of network when working with a patient to determine their share of the costs, and dentists must be able to easily locate the terms of a new contract to know the extent of limitations on services, waiting periods, how treatments are categorized and co-payment rates.

Connecticut would join 20 state legislatures across the country that have successfully made dental insurance more transparent and predictable for patients.

Coverage to Age 26
Connecticut passed a bill to allow children to remain on their parents’ health insurance until age 26 in 2008, but dental coverage was not included in that legislation.

Dental coverage should be added so that young adults can receive dental care without interruption during a period of transition as they start their careers. Currently, many young adults between age 19 and 26 do not have dental insurance coverage, which has led to an increase in hospital emergency department dental visits, straining our healthcare system and increasing overall health care costs.

In addition, delaying dental work can lead to more serious dental issues, and can potentially impact overall health, the Connecticut State Dental Association points out. A public opinion poll last fall found that 8 in 10 Connecticut residents say it’s important for young adults under age 26 to be covered by their parents’ dental insurance.

Telehealth
There are valuable benefits to telehealth, specifically teledentistry services. When practiced judiciously and effectively, it allows dentists to provide services to many patients who may not otherwise have such an opportunity to receive care.

This mode of oral healthcare delivery is an important way to ensure access to care during the coronavirus pandemic and beyond. It is essential that dentists and their patients have the ability to determine when teledentistry, vs. a clinical visit, is appropriate.

As the past year of COVID-19 has demonstrated, telehealth is playing an increasingly important role in public health, and dentistry ought to be included in the delivery of telehealth services.

The Connecticut State Dental Association is a statewide, professional membership organization representing Connecticut-licensed dentists. CSDA members are committed to protecting the health and well-being of people of all ages. CSDA has a statewide membership of approximately 1,800 members, licensed dentists in Connecticut.

The CSDA supports legislation that protects the high quality of dental care that Connecticut residents receive, and sponsors statewide public outreach programs that highlight the importance of good dental health for people of all ages. Learn more at www.csda.com.

The 2021 legislative session ends on June 9.