00HOUSE BILL NO. 121                                                                                                    
01 "An Act relating to patients' rights under a health care insurance plan or                                              
02 contract providing coverage for dental care, and prohibiting certain practices by                                       
03 health care insurers relating to dental care."                                                                          
04 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                               
05    * Section 1.  SHORT TITLE.  This Act may be known as the Alaska Dental Care Bill of                                
06 Rights.                                                                                                                 
07    * Sec. 2.  AS 21.42 is amended by adding a new section to read:                                                    
08  Sec 21.42.390.  Requirements relating to dental care coverage provisions.                                            
09 (a)  A health care insurer who provides coverage for dental care may not include in                                    
10 the health care insurance plan or contract a provision that                                                             
11   (1)  prohibits a covered person from obtaining dental care services from                                             
12 a dentist of the person's choice, including a specialist;                                                               
13   (2)  restricts a covered person's right to receive full information from                                             
14 the person's dentist regarding the care or treatment options that the dentist believes are                              

01 in the best interests of the person.                                                                                    
02  (b)  A health care insurance plan or contract that provides coverage for dental                                       
03 services that allows the health care insurer to review a treatment plan or conduct a                                    
04 utilization review must contain a provision that a treatment plan review or utilization                                 
05 review relating to dental care for a covered person receiving treatment in this state                                   
06 must be conducted by a dentist.                                                                                         
07  (c)  A health care insurer may not                                                                                    
08   (1)  directly or indirectly reimburse a covered person at a different rate                                           
09 because of the person's choice of a dentist;                                                                            
10   (2)  deny coverage, cancel a health care insurance plan or contract, or                                              
11 otherwise take action against a covered person or a dentist because the person has                                      
12 asserted a right described in this section.                                                                             
13  (d)  A covered person may bring a civil action against a health care insurer to                                       
14 enforce the person's rights under this section.                                                                         
15  (e)  In this section, "dentist" means a person licensed in this state to practice                                     
16 dentistry.