HOUSE BILL REPORT
SSB 5099
As Reported by House Committee On:
Health Care
Title: An act relating to the designation of licensed dental directors 2by carriers offering dental only coverage.
Brief Description: Designating medical directors.
Sponsors: Senate Committee on Health & Long‑Term Care (originally sponsored by Senators Winsley and Thibaudeau).
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Health Care: 2/21/02, 2/25/02 [DPA].
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Brief Summary of Substitute Bill (As Amended by House Committee) |
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$Health carriers that offer dental only coverage must designate a licensed dentist as dental director.
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE
Majority Report: Do pass as amended. Signed by 9 members: Representatives Cody, Chair; Schual‑Berke, Vice Chair; Campbell, Ranking Minority Member; Alexander, Conway, Darneille, Edwards, Ruderman and Skinner.
Staff: Dave Knutson (786‑7146).
Background:
The Patient Bill of Rights requires health carriers to designate a medical director licensed to practice in this state. Health carriers that offer dental only coverage to the public are not required to have a medical director licensed as a dentist in Washington.
Summary of Amended Bill:
Health carriers that offer dental only coverage must designate a dental director who is licensed as a dentist in Washington or in a state determined by the Dental Assurance Commission to have substantially equivalent licensing standards.
Amended Bill Compared to Substitute Bill:
Dental directors may be licensed to practice in a state determined to have substantially equivalent licensing standards to Washington.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not Requested.
Effective Date of Amended Bill: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Testimony For: The bill should allow dentists licensed in other states to serve as a dental director if the state they are licensed in has substantially equivalent licensing standards to Washington.
Testimony Against: None.
Testified: (Concerns) Nancy Wildermuth, Regence Blue Shield.