Bill Text: WV SB279 | 2020 | Regular Session | Comm Sub
Bill Title: Requiring dental insurance plans honor assignment made in writing by person covered
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2020-02-18 - To House Banking and Insurance [SB279 Detail]
Download: West_Virginia-2020-SB279-Comm_Sub.html
WEST virginia legislature
2020 regular session
Committee Substitute
for
Senate Bill 279
Senators Trump, Stollings, Baldwin, Maroney, Romano, Hamilton, Jeffries, Rucker, Roberts, and Facemire, original sponsors
[Originating in the Committee on the Judiciary; reported on February 12, 2020]
A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §33-15-22; to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §33-16-18; to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §33-24-45; to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §33-25-22; and to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §33-25A-36, all relating to the optional assignment of certain benefits in dental care insurance programs; detailing revocation and reimbursement requirements; and excluding Medicaid, CHIP, and contracts approved by the Department of Health and Human Resources Bureau for Medical Services.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
ARTICLE 15. ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE.
§33-15-22. Assignment of certain benefits in dental care insurance coverage.
(a) Any entity regulated under this article that provides dental care coverage to a covered person shall honor an assignment, made in writing by the person covered under the policy, of payments due under the policy to a dentist or a dental corporation for services provided to the covered person that are covered under the policy. Upon notice of the assignment, the entity shall make payments directly to the provider of the covered services. A dentist or dental corporation with a valid assignment may bill the entity and notify the entity of the assignment. Upon request of the entity, the dentist or dental corporation shall provide a copy of the assignment to the entity.
(b) A covered person may revoke an assignment made pursuant to subsection (a) of this section with or without the consent of the provider. The revocation shall be in writing. The covered person shall provide notice of the revocation to the entity. The entity shall send a copy of the revocation notice to the dentist or dental corporation subject to the assignment. The revocation is effective when both the entity and the provider have received a copy of the revocation notice. The revocation is only effective for any charges incurred after both parties have received the revocation notice.
(c) If, under an assignment authorized in subsection (a) of this section, a dentist or dental corporation collects payment from a covered person and subsequently receives payment from the entity, the dentist or dental corporation shall reimburse the covered person, less any applicable copayments, deductibles, or coinsurance amounts, within 45 days.
(d) Nothing in this section limits an entity’s ability to determine the scope of the entity’s benefits, services, or any other terms of the entity’s policies or to negotiate any contract with a licensed health care provider regarding reimbursement rates or any other lawful provisions.
(e) Any entity providing dental care shall provide conspicuous notice to the covered person that the assignment of benefits is optional, and that additional payments may be required if the assigned benefits are not sufficient to pay for received services.
ARTICLE 16. GROUP ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE.
§33-16-18. Assignment of certain benefits in dental care insurance coverage.
(a) Any entity regulated under this article that provides dental care coverage to a covered person shall honor an assignment, made in writing by the person covered under the policy, of payments due under the policy to a dentist or a dental corporation for services provided to the covered person that are covered under the policy. Upon notice of the assignment, the entity shall make payments directly to the provider of the covered services. A dentist or dental corporation with a valid assignment may bill the entity and notify the entity of the assignment. Upon request of the entity, the dentist or dental corporation shall provide a copy of the assignment to the entity.
(b) A covered person may revoke an assignment made pursuant to subsection (a) of this section with or without the consent of the provider. The revocation shall be in writing. The covered person shall provide notice of the revocation to the entity. The entity shall send a copy of the revocation notice to the dentist or dental corporation subject to the assignment. The revocation is effective when both the entity and the provider have received a copy of the revocation notice. The revocation is only effective for any charges incurred after both parties have received the revocation notice.
(c) If, under an assignment authorized in subsection (a) of this section, a dentist or dental corporation collects payment from a covered person and subsequently receives payment from the entity, the dentist or dental corporation shall reimburse the covered person, less any applicable copayments, deductibles, or coinsurance amounts, within 45 days.
(d) Nothing in this section limits an entity’s ability to determine the scope of the entity’s benefits, services, or any other terms of the entity’s policies or to negotiate any contract with a licensed health care provider regarding reimbursement rates or any other lawful provisions.
(e) Any entity providing dental care shall provide conspicuous notice to the covered person that the assignment of benefits is optional, and that additional payments may be required if the assigned benefits are not sufficient to pay for received services.
ARTICLE 24. HOSPITAL SERVICE CORPORATIONS, MEDICAL SERVICE CORPORATIONS, DENTAL SERVICE CORPORATIONS, AND HEALTH SERVICE CORPORATIONS.
§33-24-45. Assignment of certain benefits in dental care insurance coverage.
(a) Any entity regulated under this article that provides dental care coverage to a covered person shall honor an assignment, made in writing by the person covered under the policy, of payments due under the policy to a dentist or a dental corporation for services provided to the covered person that are covered under the policy. Upon notice of the assignment, the entity shall make payments directly to the provider of the covered services. A dentist or dental corporation with a valid assignment may bill the entity and notify the entity of the assignment. Upon request of the entity, the dentist or dental corporation shall provide a copy of the assignment to the entity.
(b) A covered person may revoke an assignment made pursuant to subsection (a) of this section with or without the consent of the provider. The revocation shall be in writing. The covered person shall provide notice of the revocation to the entity. The entity shall send a copy of the revocation notice to the dentist or dental corporation subject to the assignment. The revocation is effective when both the entity and the provider have received a copy of the revocation notice. The revocation is only effective for any charges incurred after both parties have received the revocation notice.
(c) If, under an assignment authorized in subsection (a) of this section, a dentist or dental corporation collects payment from a covered person and subsequently receives payment from the entity, the dentist or dental corporation shall reimburse the covered person, less any applicable copayments, deductibles, or coinsurance amounts, within 45 days.
(d) Nothing in this section limits an entity’s ability to determine the scope of the entity’s benefits, services, or any other terms of the entity’s policies or to negotiate any contract with a licensed health care provider regarding reimbursement rates or any other lawful provisions.
(e) Any entity providing dental care shall provide conspicuous notice to the covered person that the assignment of benefits is optional, and that additional payments may be required if the assigned benefits are not sufficient to pay for received services.
ARTICLE 25. HEALTH CARE CORPORATIONS.
§33-25-22. Assignment of certain benefits in dental care insurance coverage.
(a) Any entity regulated under this article that provides dental care coverage to a covered person shall honor an assignment, made in writing by the person covered under the policy, of payments due under the policy to a dentist or a dental corporation for services provided to the covered person that are covered under the policy. Upon notice of the assignment, the entity shall make payments directly to the provider of the covered services. A dentist or dental corporation with a valid assignment may bill the entity and notify the entity of the assignment. Upon request of the entity, the dentist or dental corporation shall provide a copy of the assignment to the entity.
(b) A covered person may revoke an assignment made pursuant to subsection (a) of this section with or without the consent of the provider. The revocation shall be in writing. The covered person shall provide notice of the revocation to the entity. The entity shall send a copy of the revocation notice to the dentist or dental corporation subject to the assignment. The revocation is effective when both the entity and the provider have received a copy of the revocation notice. The revocation is only effective for any charges incurred after both parties have received the revocation notice.
(c) If, under an assignment authorized in subsection (a) of this section, a dentist or dental corporation collects payment from a covered person and subsequently receives payment from the entity, the dentist or dental corporation shall reimburse the covered person, less any applicable copayments, deductibles, or coinsurance amounts, within 45 days.
(d) Nothing in this section limits an entity’s ability to determine the scope of the entity’s benefits, services, or any other terms of the entity’s policies or to negotiate any contract with a licensed health care provider regarding reimbursement rates or any other lawful provisions.
(e) Any entity providing dental care shall provide conspicuous notice to the covered person that the assignment of benefits is optional, and that additional payments may be required if the assigned benefits are not sufficient to pay for received services.
ARTICLE 25A. HEALTH MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATION ACT.
§33-25A-36. Assignment of certain benefits in dental care insurance coverage.
(a) Any entity regulated under this article that provides dental care coverage to a covered person shall honor an assignment, made in writing by the person covered under the policy, of payments due under the policy to a dentist or a dental corporation for services provided to the covered person that are covered under the policy. Upon notice of the assignment, the entity shall make payments directly to the provider of the covered services. A dentist or dental corporation with a valid assignment may bill the entity and notify the entity of the assignment. Upon request of the entity, the dentist or dental corporation shall provide a copy of the assignment to the entity.
(b) A covered person may revoke an assignment made pursuant to subsection (a) of this section with or without the consent of the provider. The revocation shall be in writing. The covered person shall provide notice of the revocation to the entity. The entity shall send a copy of the revocation notice to the dentist or dental corporation subject to the assignment. The revocation is effective when both the entity and the provider have received a copy of the revocation notice. The revocation is only effective for any charges incurred after both parties have received the revocation notice.
(c) If, under an assignment authorized in subsection (a) of this section, a dentist or dental corporation collects payment from a covered person and subsequently receives payment from the entity, the dentist or dental corporation shall reimburse the covered person, less any applicable copayments, deductibles, or coinsurance amounts, within 45 days.
(d) Nothing in this section limits an entity’s ability to determine the scope of the entity’s benefits, services, or any other terms of the entity’s policies or to negotiate any contract with a licensed health care provider regarding reimbursement rates or any other lawful provisions.
(e) Any entity providing dental care shall provide conspicuous notice to the covered person that the assignment of benefits is optional, and that additional payments may be required if the assigned benefits are not sufficient to pay for received services.
(f) The provisions of this section shall not apply to insurers or managed care organizations with respect to their Medicaid or CHIP plans or contracts which are reviewed and approved by the Department of Health and Human Resources Bureau for Medical Services.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to require dental insurance plans to honor an assignment, made in writing by the person covered under the policy, of payments due under the policy to a dentist or a dental corporation for services provided to the covered person that are covered under the policy.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.
