Dentists and oral surgeons; reimbursement for certain services. (SB622)

Introduced By

Sen. William Wampler (R-Bristol) with support from 37 copatrons, whose average partisan position is:

Those copatrons are Del. Watkins Abbitt (I-Appomattox), Del. Ward Armstrong (D-Martinsville), Del. Clay Athey (R-Front Royal), Del. Anne Crockett-Stark (R-Wytheville), Del. Tom Gear (R-Hampton), Del. Todd Gilbert (R-Woodstock), Del. Algie Howell (D-Norfolk), Del. Tim Hugo (R-Centreville), Del. Joseph Johnson (D-Abingdon), Del. Chris Jones (R-Suffolk), Del. Terry Kilgore (R-Gate City), Del. Manoli Loupassi (R-Richmond), Del. Don Merricks (R-Danville), Del. Will Morefield (R-North Tazewell), Del. Dave Nutter (R-Christiansburg), Del. John O'Bannon (R-Richmond), Del. Chris Peace (R-Mechanicsville), Del. Charles Poindexter (R-Glade Hill), Del. Bob Purkey (R-Virginia Beach), Del. Jim Shuler (D-Blacksburg), Del. Roslyn Tyler (D-Jarratt), Del. Lee Ware (R-Powhatan), Del. Onzlee Ware (D-Roanoke), Sen. Kenneth Alexander (D-Norfolk), Sen. Harry Blevins (R-Chesapeake), Sen. Roz Dance (D-Petersburg), Sen. Mamie Locke (D-Hampton), Sen. Louise Lucas (D-Portsmouth), Sen. Henry Marsh (D-Richmond), Sen. Steve Martin (R-Chesterfield), Sen. Joe Morrissey (D-Richmond), Sen. Steve Newman (R-Forest), Sen. Ralph Northam (D-Norfolk), Sen. Phil Puckett (D-Tazewell), Sen. Fred Quayle (R-Suffolk), Sen. Lionell Spruill (D-Chesapeake), Sen. Frank Wagner (R-Virginia Beach)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate
Signed by Governor
Became Law

Description

Dental plans; reimbursement for health care services.  Prohibits a contract for the provision of health care between a dental plan and a dentist or oral surgeon that establishes the fee or rate that the dentist or oral surgeon is required to accept for the provision of health care services, or from requiring that a dentist or oral surgeon accept the reimbursement paid by the dental plan as payment in full for health care services. These prohibitions do not apply to covered health care services that a dentist or oral surgeon has agreed to provide on behalf of the dental plan to its insured, subscribers, or enrollees with an expectation of receiving payment, other than copayments or deductibles, directly or indirectly from the dental plan. The measure applies to contracts entered into, amended, extended, or renewed on or after July 1, 2010. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Passed

History

DateAction
01/18/2010Presented and ordered printed 10103596D
01/18/2010Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor
02/01/2010Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute (14-Y 1-N) (see vote tally)
02/01/2010Committee substitute printed 10104727D-S1
02/03/2010Constitutional reading dispensed (39-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/04/2010Read second time
02/04/2010Reading of substitute waived
02/04/2010Committee substitute agreed to 10104727D-S1
02/04/2010Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute SB622S1
02/08/2010Passed by for the day
02/09/2010Passed by for the day
02/10/2010Read third time and passed Senate (39-Y 1-N) (see vote tally)
02/16/2010Placed on Calendar
02/16/2010Read first time
02/16/2010Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor
02/19/2010Impact statement from DPB (SB622S1)
02/23/2010Reported from Commerce and Labor (18-Y 4-N) (see vote tally)
02/25/2010Read second time
02/26/2010Read third time
02/26/2010Passed House (92-Y 4-N)
02/26/2010VOTE: --- PASSAGE (92-Y 4-N) (see vote tally)
03/05/2010Enrolled
03/05/2010Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB622ER)
03/05/2010Signed by Speaker
03/08/2010Signed by President
03/10/2010Impact statement from DPB (SB622ER)
04/13/2010G Approved by Governor-Chapter 734 (effective 7/1/10)
04/13/2010G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0734)

Video

This bill was discussed on the floor of the General Assembly. Below is all of the video that we have of that discussion, 3 clips in all, totaling 5 minutes.

Duplicate Bills

The following bills are identical to this one: HB1263.

Comments

William Thesier writes:

Insurance companies are out of control and interfering with doctor/patient relationships. This bill helps level the playing field. Please support this bill.

Chuck Noland writes:

Insurance companies want to dictate patient fees so they can sell discount cards that are honored in their provider networks. Imagine making money on something you don't cover, don't have to collect a preminium, no financial risk. People are sick of unions/insurance companies like the UAW trying to get a preferential tx in health care reform

Lawrence Muller writes:

The insurance companies are going to fleece the State of Virginia on this one.
There are 6000 dentists in VA. 84% are Delta providers. If each of these sees a reduction in gross revenue of $20,000 per year due to non-covered fees reduction, that is a total of 100,000,000 USD per year. Sales and income tax of 10% on this amount would be 10M USD. That is AT LEAST how much the Commonwealth will lose in tax revenue if these bills do not pass. This is the MINIMUM the state will lose, and the numbers could be MUCH larger. In addition, layoffs will happen in dental offices. Do we want longer unemployment lines? Please have the Governor sign this bill, for the sake of everyone.

Lawrence Muller writes:

Help pass these bills. Take these numbers to your legislators. Do they really want to be responsible for watching 10M-20M in tax revenue evaporate? I think not. If these bills do not pass, our great State of Virginia will realize a very real loss of 10M to 20M in tax revenue. Regardless of your view on taxes, dental office revenue decreases as I have outlined will result in a legitimate loss for the Commonwealth. If the insurance companies are able to persuade our lawmakers to allow these types of abusive and restrictive contracts, we dentists and the State of Virginia will suffer. Help pass HB1263 and SB 622. Contact your legislators to let them know you are watching, listening, and voting.

Mark Grove writes:

Please don't let insurance companies ruin dentistry like Medicare has ruined all of healthcare. Don't let companies like Delta Dental, the voice of state run dentalcare,yes government run dentalcare, dictate fees, ruining private interprise. Do not empower Delta Dental USA to become the next Enron or AIG, as their leadership is out of control.
Send a message to these companies to stay in the insurance business, and to cover procedures at 100% if they truly want to make care more affordable to their insurred.Visit www.DeltawantsyoutopaymoresoDeltacanpayoutless.com
Thank you for supporting this bill!!

Marcus Booster writes:

Dentistry is already ruined. It's cost prohibitive for all but the most minor procedures even if you do carry dental insurance.

Fred Q. writes:

Please don't let the powerful insurance companies become labor unions or buyers clubs. Don't let the insurance companies destroy dental practices the way the UAW destroyed the auto industry, with their excessive benefits. Support these bills, and promote job creation by dentist, who are mostly small businesses.