LEGISLATIVE INSURANCE CARD UPDATE

During the last five years the Utah Dental Association has made great strides in dealing with Insurance Reform through the legislative process. These bills that have been passed unfortunately only apply to State Regulated Insurance plans. The UDA office often gets calls asking which plans are state regulated and which ones are federally regulated. With the variety of insurance plans and the many variations of each plan, we previously have not been able to determine whether a plan was state or federally regulated.

The UDA has been working with Rep Jim Dunnigan and the Insurance Commissioner’s office. As a result, effective July of 2023, the patients’ health ID card should indicate if a patients plan is a state regulated plan. Look for that designation on the Patient ID card (both sides should have the designation)

This will give dental offices the information needed to use the bills that have been previously passed without guessing if those bills would apply.

With the legislation that has been passed the past few years on dental insurance reform, we are hearing more and more reports of various insurance companies not complying with the new laws. The Insurance Commissioner’s office has asked us to collect the details and information of which companies are dodging the laws. In order to better fight back on those situations where the laws are not being followed, we need you to report to us the violations as you experience them. As we gather this information, the Insurance commissioner’s office can force the insurance companies to “play by the rules”. This will allow dental offices to use the Legislative successes to their full capabilities.

Volunteer Dentists and Hygienists Needed for Project Homeless Connect - Friday, March 24, 2023

Project Homeless Connect is a one-day event at the Salt Palace Convention Center where over 1000 unsheltered members of our community receive essential services, including medical, dental, vision, legal, recovery, and wellness care. Nearly 100 organizations and 900 volunteers attend to offer services. The dental area is one of the most popular services; In 2019 over 200 people received dental checkups, cleanings, or extractions.

www.phcslc.org merging

We are looking for dentists and hygienists to volunteer on Friday, March 24, 2023. If you are available, please contact nicolehandy@gmail. com for more information.

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� Dr. David Chamberlain