SENATE COMMERCE COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 2853

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  OCTOBER 22, 2020

     The Senate Commerce Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 2853.

     This bill prohibits certain provisions in agreements between insurance carriers and dentists.

     Specifically, the bill prohibits a carrier from including in an agreement between the carrier and a participating dentist a provision that:

     (1)   allows the carrier to deny payment to a participating dentist for a covered procedure performed or for a covered service provided on behalf of a covered person; and

     (2)   prohibits the dentist from collecting the amount owed from the covered person for that procedure or service.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amended the bill to:

      (1)  limit the provisions of the bill to covered procedures and services;

      (2)  provide that nothing in the bill exempts or limits a participating dentist from the provisions of the “Insurance Fraud Prevention Act”; and

      (3)  add certain terms and definitions.