URGENT CALL TO ACTION!

CALL YOUR TWO STATE REPRESENTATIVES TODAY & URGE THEM TO SUPPORT HB 1683 ENSURING PATIENT ACCESS TO DENTURISTS IN DENTAL INSURANCE NETWORK

Background:


The Washington Denturist Association is supporting HB 1683. This bill would provide for an “every category of provider” type of regulation for dental only plans. Currently, “every category of provider” only applies to health plans under Washington law.


“Every category of provider” ensures that insurance networks have representatives of all Washington state licensed categories of provider. When this law was put in place for health insurers, there weren’t any other separately licensed provider types in dental that could practice outside of a dental office. In 1994, denturists became a separately licensed provider able to practice outside of a dental office.

Why is This Bill Needed?


Patients can go directly to a denturist’s office without a dentist referral under our license and have a very specific scope of practice. Unlike hygienists and dental assistants, this means that denturist practice outside of a dentist office and bill separately for their services.


Since many states do not have denturist licenses (they are recognized federally in Canada), many insurers are not familiar with this type of provider and do not include denturists in their dental provider networks. Some insurers are refusing to even allow dentists to refer patients to denturists.


HB 1683 ensures that dental only plans have denturists in their provider networks. This will ensure dental consumers have greater access to licensed, affordable and available providers. For denturists, their customers are often lower income and in need of services. If they are paying for an insurance benefit, they should be assured they can use the provider who provides the benefit.


This bill will ensure their dental insurance plans have this more affordable provider in the network for provision of dentures and other removable non-orthodontic dental prosthetic devices.

Find Your Two State Representatives

Call or email them to ask them to please support HB 1683 when it comes to the House floor for a vote.

Washington Denturist Association

wadenturist.com | 253-579-817

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