RÉSUMÉ DIGEST
ACT 49 (SB 73) 2019 Regular Session Long
New law, relative to dental reimbursement or payment, defines "credit card payment" as a
type of electronic funds transfer in which a dental plan or its contracted vendor issues a
single-use series of numbers chargeable for a predetermined dollar amount associated with
the payment for dental healthcare services.
New law defines "electronic funds transfer" as an electronic funds transfer through the
federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act standard automated
clearinghouse network.
New law prohibits a dental plan that is delivered, renewed, issued for delivery, or otherwise
contracted for in this state from restricting methods of payment from the dental plan to the
dentist for the purpose of making a credit card as the only means payment is acceptable for
healthcare services provided by the dentist to the insured.
New law requires a dental plan which initiates or changes payments to a dentist using
electronic funds transfer payments or credit card payments to do both of the following:
(1)Notify the dentist if any fees are associated with a particular payment method.
(2)Advise the dentist of all available methods of payment and provide clear instructions
to the dentist as to how to select an alternative payment method.
Prohibits waiver by contract of provisions in new law.
Effective August 1, 2019.
(Amends R.S. 22:1157(A); adds R.S. 22:1157(D))