Sen. Vitelli introduces bill to improve transparency on dental bills

AUGUSTA — On Tuesday, Sen. Eloise Vitelli, D-Arrowsic, introduced a bill to help ensure Mainers don’t face surprise fees on their dental bills. LD 1349, “An Act To Increase Transparency in Dental Billing,” was the subject of a public hearing before the Legislature’s Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services Committee.

“During the pandemic, people across the state were surprised by additional fees as health care providers took extra safety precautions to protect themselves and their patients. These sometimes expensive fees were tacked on to bills by a variety of health care providers, with the patient — not their insurance provider — on the hook for this brand new charge,” said Sen. Vitelli. “Because of the nature of their work, dentists are more at risk for contracting COVID-19 from their patients than many other health care workers are. I’m deeply sympathetic to the great pains they had to take to keep themselves and their patients safe during this pandemic. But if these costs must be passed along to patients, they at least must be notified first.”

LD 1349 would require a dentist, independent practice dental hygienist or denturist to provide notice to a patient before services are rendered of a charge for a procedure, equipment, materials or other measures necessary to protect the health and safety of patients and staff during a public health emergency such as a pandemic or other outbreak of infectious disease.

“Services provided to prevent and treat oral health care problems are expensive,” said Ann Woloson, Executive Director of Consumers for Affordable Health Care. “While more needs to be done to improve access to affordable, quality oral health care in Maine, it seems reasonable that a person should be able to obtain information about how much a dental procedure, related materials, and the use of equipment will cost, before services are rendered. 

LD 1349 faces further action in committee.