Juneau -- The Alaska House of Representatives Monday passed HB 121, sponsored by Representative Con Bunde.

"When a dentist enters a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) the insurance company saves money and the dentist gains a large number of new patients. Unfortunately, the increased number of patients means each patient is likely to receive a fraction of the care he or she should receive," Bunde said. "Many people say they cannot see the dentist they wish to see, they spend less time with the dentist they do see, and they feel rushed into and out of the dentist's office."

HB 121 sets out the rights of dental health care consumers. Specifically, the bill would:

• allow consumers to choose any dentist they wish to see including a specialist;
• prohibit insurers from reimbursing a covered person at a different rate if a dentist is not a member of the client's (PPO);
• give covered people the right to receive full information regarding their care options without fearing adverse actions from insurance companies;
• allows patients to take civil action against health care insurers to enforce their rights; and
• require any dental treatment plan review or utilization review to be conducted by a dentist.

"If it is fair to allow insurance companies to tell patients who will perform their dental care, then it is only fair to tell patients what their rights are in that regard," Bunde said. "HB 121 sets those rights into law so all parties involved can know where they stand."

HB 121 passed the House unanimously.