Massachusetts 2023-2024 Regular Session

Massachusetts Senate Bill S676 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1885 FILED ON: 1/20/2023
3	3	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 676
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Paul W. Mark
8	8	_________________
9	9	To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
10	10	Court assembled:
11	11	The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
12	12	An Act to ensure consumer cost protection under the dental medical loss ratio.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Paul W. MarkBerkshire, Hampden, Franklin and
16	16	Hampshire
17	17	Susannah M. Whipps2nd Franklin2/13/2023Joanne M. ComerfordHampshire, Franklin and Worcester2/13/2023Vanna Howard17th Middlesex2/13/2023James B. EldridgeMiddlesex and Worcester2/16/2023John Barrett, III1st Berkshire2/21/2023 1 of 2
18	18	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1885 FILED ON: 1/20/2023
19	19	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 676
20	20	By Mr. Mark, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 676) of Paul W. Mark, Susannah M.
21	21	Whipps, Joanne M. Comerford, Vanna Howard and other members of the General Court for
22	22	legislation to ensure consumer cost protection under the dental medical loss ratio. Financial
23	23	Services.
24	24	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
25	25	_______________
26	26	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
27	27	(2023-2024)
28	28	_______________
29	29	An Act to ensure consumer cost protection under the dental medical loss ratio.
30	30	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
31	31	of the same, as follows:
32	32	1 SECTION 1. Section 1 of chapter 176X, as inserted by chapter 287 of the acts of 2022 is
33	33	2hereby amended by inserting before the definition of “Carrier” the following definition:-
34	34	3 “Annual benefit maximum”, the total dollar amount that a dental carrier will pay for a
35	35	4plan member’s care within the given plan year.
36	36	5 SECTION 2. Said section 1 of said chapter 176X, as so appearing, is hereby further
37	37	6amended by inserting after the definition of “Carrier” the following definition:-
38	38	7 “Cost-Sharing”, the share of costs for the services covered by the dental benefit plan that
39	39	8are paid out of a beneficiary’s pocket, including but not limited to co-pays, deductibles and co-
40	40	9insurance.
41	41	10 SECTION 3. Section 1 of said chapter 176X, as so appearing, is hereby further amended
42	42	11by inserting after the definition of “Dental benefit plans” the following definition:- 2 of 2
43	43	12 “Out-of-pocket costs”, expenses paid for dental care that are not reimbursed by insurance,
44	44	13including but not limited to: deductibles, coinsurance and copayments for covered services plus
45	45	14all costs for services that aren't covered.
46	46	15 SECTION 4. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, subsection (b)
47	47	16of section 2 of said chapter 176X as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting in line 8, after
48	48	17the words “associated with paying claims.” the following sentence:-
49	49	18 The commissioner shall additionally require carriers offering dental benefit plans to
50	50	19submit information regarding out-of-pocket costs for dental plan members, including but not
51	51	20limited to: (i) annual benefit maximums, and (ii) cost-sharing including, but not limited to co-
52	52	21pays, deductibles, and co-insurance.
53	53	22 SECTION 5. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, subsection (c)
54	54	23of said section 2 of said chapter 176X as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting, in
55	55	24line 6, after the words “not actuarially sound.”, the following sentence:-
56	56	25 The commissioner may disapprove proposed changes to the base rates and changes to
57	57	26rating factors if the commissioner finds an increase in out-of-pocket costs paid by a carrier’s
58	58	27beneficiaries is unreasonable or excessive.