REPORT TITLE:
Dentists


DESCRIPTION:
Permits a patient to direct an insurer plan to directly reimburse
a nonparticipating dental provider.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                        
THE SENATE                              S.B. NO.           783
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 1999                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                   A  BILL  FOR  AN  ACT

RELATING TO DENTAL INSURANCE. 


BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 1      SECTION 1.  Chapter 431:10A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
 
 2 amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated
 
 3 and to read as follows:
 
 4      "�431:10A-     Dental services; reimbursement.  (a)  An
 
 5 insured may assign reimbursement for dental services directly to
 
 6 the provider of services.
 
 7      (b)  Upon notification by the insured, the insurer shall
 
 8 reimburse the provider for dental services provided to the
 
 9 insured.  The insurer shall reimburse the provider regardless of
 
10 whether the provider is a participating provider with the
 
11 insurer.
 
12      (c)  If an insurer fails to reimburse the provider pursuant
 
13 to this section, the insurer shall be liable for interest in the
 
14 amount of one per cent per month or any part of a month thereof
 
15 commencing from the date the claim and assignment of the claim is
 
16 received by the insurer; provided that this subsection shall not
 
17 apply if the insurer reimburses the provider within twenty-one
 
18 days from the date the claim and assignment of the claim is
 
19 received by the insurer.  The interest shall accrue until the
 

 
Page 2                                                     
                                     S.B. NO.           783
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1 full amount of the claim is received by the provider.
 
 2      (d)  This section shall not apply to claims in which there
 
 3 is a dispute regarding the legitimacy of the claim, and the
 
 4 insurer does both of the following:
 
 5      (1)  Notifies the provider within two weeks of the receipt
 
 6           of the claim and the assignment that there is a dispute
 
 7           and specifies the reason or reasons for the dispute;
 
 8           and
 
 9      (2)  Pays any undisputed portion of the claim within thirty
 
10           days of receipt of the claim and the assignment, and
 
11           makes a timely, good faith effort to resolve any
 
12           difference between the insurer and provider.
 
13      (e)  Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit any
 
14 insurer from determining the scope of its benefits, services, or
 
15 any other terms contained in the insurer's contracts except as
 
16 provided in this section.
 
17      (f)  As used in this section:
 
18      "Participating provider" means a provider that contracts
 
19 with an insurer to provide services to insureds.
 
20      "Provider" means a dentist licensed to practice in Hawaii
 
21 under chapter 448."
 
22      SECTION 2.  New statutory material is underscored.
 
23      SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
 
24 
 
25                           INTRODUCED BY:  _______________________