Second Regular Session S.B. 1138
COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
SENATE AMENDMENTS TO S.B. 1138
(Reference to printed bill)
Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert:
"Section 1. Dental insurance transparency study committee; membership; duties; delayed repeal
A. The dental insurance transparency study committee is established consisting of the following members:
1. Two members of the senate who are not members of the same political party and who are appointed by the president of the senate. The president of the senate shall designate one of these members to serve as cochairperson of the committee.
2. Two members of the house of representatives who are not members of the same political party and who are appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives. The speaker of the house of representatives shall designate one of these members to serve as cochairperson of the committee.
3. The director of the department of insurance and financial institutions or the director's designee.
4. A person who is licensed in this state to provide dental services directly to patients, whose primary business location is in a county with a population of nine hundred thousand or more persons and who is appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
5. A person who is licensed in this state to provide dental services directly to patients, whose primary business location is in a county with a population of fewer than nine hundred thousand persons and who is appointed by the president of the senate.
6. A representative of an organization that is engaged in supporting health and dental insurance businesses in this state who is appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
7. A representative of a dental service corporation that provides services within this state who is appointed by the president of the senate.
8. A representative of an insurer or a dental service corporation who is appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
9. A representative of a nonprofit organization that engages in oral health care policy who is appointed by the president of the senate.
10. A representative of a private organization that provides dental benefits to consumers in this state who is appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
11. A representative of a membership organization that works to improve oral health and wellbeing through advocacy, professional development and networking who is appointed by the president of the senate.
12. A representative of an organization that promotes and facilitates the development and delivery of oral health care through advocacy, education and technical assistance who is appointed by the president of the senate.
B. The study committee shall do all of the following:
1. Review the current and future availability and use by dentists, health care plans and dental service corporations of interactive systems for patients and dentists to confirm enrollment, determine benefits and manage claims with a dental service corporation or insurer.
2. Analyze the current practices of benefit predeterminations and prior authorization requests for dental benefits and services and review barriers to efficient claims handling and appropriate payment of benefits.
3. Assess the handling of overpayments to dentists by state regulated dental insurers within practice groups.
4. Review other issues that will improve the access to dental care and cost- effective dental insurance.
C. The study committee may hold hearings, conduct factfinding tours, request data from the department of insurance and financial institutions and take testimony from witnesses who may assist the study committee in fulfilling its responsibilities. All hearings of the study committee shall be open to the public.
D. The legislature and the department of insurance and financial institutions shall provide staff and support services to the study committee.
E. Study committee members are not eligible to receive compensation but are eligible for reimbursement of expenses pursuant to title 38, chapter 4, article 2, Arizona Revised Statutes.
F. On or before November 1, 2020, the study committee shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the governor, the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives and provide a copy of this report to the secretary of state.
G. This section is repealed from and after December 31, 2020."
Amend title to conform