Insurers renting dental networks must notify providers and honor contracts

Insurers must tell dental providers that they rent their networks and list the entities that may rent them. The rule covers defined network plans, preferred provider plans, limited service health organizations, and other insurers that meet those conditions. This applies to insurers that cover dental services, have participating dental providers, and rent their networks to other entities. The notice and list are required in contracts entered into, changed, or renewed more than 30 days after this requirement takes effect.

Insurers must notify a dental provider when they agree to rent that provider’s contract to another entity. This applies when a covered insurer agrees to rent a dental provider’s contract to another entity. The notice may be sent electronically or in writing and must name the entity receiving the rented contract. The insurer must notify the provider within 45 days of the contract rental.

Anyone obtaining a dental provider network through rental must follow the terms of the providers’ original contracts. This applies to anyone obtaining participating dental providers through rental from a covered insurer. The terms include the discounted rates or fees in the original contract. For contracts or agreements with conflicting terms, this applies when the insurer-provider contract is entered into, changed, or renewed on the effective date of the initial-applicability subsection.

A dental provider may end participation with the entity renting the provider’s contract without ending the original contract with the insurer. This applies to a provider whose contract has been rented to another entity. For contracts or agreements with conflicting terms, this applies when the insurer-provider contract is entered into, changed, or renewed on the effective date of the initial-applicability subsection.