AB-371
Health & Public Health

Dental coverage.

Introduced
CA
2025-2026 Regular Session
0
0
Track

Key Takeaways

  • Requires health plans to offer dental appointments within 48 hours for urgent care and 18 days for routine care.
  • Mandates direct payment to out-of-network dentists when patients sign over their insurance benefits.
  • Requires dentists to disclose estimated costs and network status before accepting insurance assignments.
  • Establishes stricter network adequacy standards for dental providers across California.

Summary

Assembly Member Haney's dental coverage legislation establishes new requirements for health plans and insurers to expedite access to dental care while expanding payment options for out-of-network providers. The bill reduces maximum wait times for dental appointments, requiring urgent care visits within 48 hours, routine appointments within 18 business days, and preventive care within 20 business days.

The legislation mandates that health plans and insurers pay non-contracted dental providers directly when patients sign an assignment of benefits form. Before accepting such assignments, providers must inform patients of their out-of-network status, note that in-network care may cost less, and provide cost estimates for planned treatments. Plans must notify patients when out-of-network payments are made and explain how these costs apply to annual or lifetime maximums.

To ensure adequate access to care, the bill subjects dental providers to geographic accessibility standards and requires plans to report comprehensive network data, including coverage details across all lines of business. Regulatory departments must evaluate entire provider networks, including portions serving plans they don't directly oversee. The departments may develop additional access standards through 2028, with requirements to consult stakeholders during development.

The provisions exclude Medi-Cal managed care contracts and dental plans. Violations by health plans constitute a crime under state law, though local agencies and school districts require no reimbursement for associated costs since the changes only affect criminal penalties.

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations
Next Step
Assembly Committee
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations
Hearing has not been scheduled yet
Assembly Health Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Health Hearing
Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
Introduced
Assembly Floor
Introduced
Read first time. To print.

Contacts

Profile
Joaquin ArambulaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Buffy WicksD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Lisa CalderonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Mike FongD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Matt HaneyD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 18 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 4
Select All Legislators
Profile
Joaquin ArambulaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Buffy WicksD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Lisa CalderonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Mike FongD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Matt HaneyD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Dawn AddisD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Diane DixonR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Gregg HartD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Blanca PachecoD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Gail PellerinD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Kate SanchezR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Tri TaR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Jessica CalozaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Mark GonzalezD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Heather HadwickR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Chris RogersD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Jose SolacheD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Sade ElhawaryD
Assemblymember
Committee Member

Similar Past Legislation

Bill NumberTitleIntroduced DateStatusLink to Bill
AB-1048
Dental benefits and rate review.
February 2023
Passed
AB-952
Dental coverage disclosures.
February 2023
Passed
Dental services: third-party network access.
February 2019
Passed
Health insurance: dental services: reporting and disclosures.
February 2018
Passed
Dental plans: medical loss ratios: reports.
February 2014
Passed
Dental coverage: provider notice of changes.
February 2012
Passed
Dental coverage: noncontracting providers: assignment of
February 2012
Failed
Dental coverage: noncovered benefits.
February 2010
Passed
Showing 8 of 8 items
Page 1 of 1

Get Involved

Act Now!

Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

Introduced By

Matt Haney
Matt HaneyD
California State Assembly Member
Co-Authors
Dawn Addis
Dawn AddisD
California State Assembly Member
Chris Rogers
Chris RogersD
California State Assembly Member
10% progression
Bill has been formally introduced and read for the first time in its house of origin (2/3/2025)

Latest Voting History

April 22, 2025
PASS
Assembly Committee
Assembly Health Hearing
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
150116PASS

Key Takeaways

  • Requires health plans to offer dental appointments within 48 hours for urgent care and 18 days for routine care.
  • Mandates direct payment to out-of-network dentists when patients sign over their insurance benefits.
  • Requires dentists to disclose estimated costs and network status before accepting insurance assignments.
  • Establishes stricter network adequacy standards for dental providers across California.

Get Involved

Act Now!

Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

Introduced By

Matt Haney
Matt HaneyD
California State Assembly Member
Co-Authors
Dawn Addis
Dawn AddisD
California State Assembly Member
Chris Rogers
Chris RogersD
California State Assembly Member

Summary

Assembly Member Haney's dental coverage legislation establishes new requirements for health plans and insurers to expedite access to dental care while expanding payment options for out-of-network providers. The bill reduces maximum wait times for dental appointments, requiring urgent care visits within 48 hours, routine appointments within 18 business days, and preventive care within 20 business days.

The legislation mandates that health plans and insurers pay non-contracted dental providers directly when patients sign an assignment of benefits form. Before accepting such assignments, providers must inform patients of their out-of-network status, note that in-network care may cost less, and provide cost estimates for planned treatments. Plans must notify patients when out-of-network payments are made and explain how these costs apply to annual or lifetime maximums.

To ensure adequate access to care, the bill subjects dental providers to geographic accessibility standards and requires plans to report comprehensive network data, including coverage details across all lines of business. Regulatory departments must evaluate entire provider networks, including portions serving plans they don't directly oversee. The departments may develop additional access standards through 2028, with requirements to consult stakeholders during development.

The provisions exclude Medi-Cal managed care contracts and dental plans. Violations by health plans constitute a crime under state law, though local agencies and school districts require no reimbursement for associated costs since the changes only affect criminal penalties.

10% progression
Bill has been formally introduced and read for the first time in its house of origin (2/3/2025)

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations
Next Step
Assembly Committee
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations
Hearing has not been scheduled yet
Assembly Health Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Health Hearing
Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
Introduced
Assembly Floor
Introduced
Read first time. To print.

Latest Voting History

April 22, 2025
PASS
Assembly Committee
Assembly Health Hearing
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
150116PASS

Contacts

Profile
Joaquin ArambulaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Buffy WicksD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Lisa CalderonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Mike FongD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Matt HaneyD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 18 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 4
Select All Legislators
Profile
Joaquin ArambulaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Buffy WicksD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Lisa CalderonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Mike FongD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Matt HaneyD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Dawn AddisD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Diane DixonR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Gregg HartD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Blanca PachecoD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Gail PellerinD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Kate SanchezR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Tri TaR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Jessica CalozaD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Mark GonzalezD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Heather HadwickR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Chris RogersD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Jose SolacheD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Sade ElhawaryD
Assemblymember
Committee Member

Similar Past Legislation

Bill NumberTitleIntroduced DateStatusLink to Bill
AB-1048
Dental benefits and rate review.
February 2023
Passed
AB-952
Dental coverage disclosures.
February 2023
Passed
Dental services: third-party network access.
February 2019
Passed
Health insurance: dental services: reporting and disclosures.
February 2018
Passed
Dental plans: medical loss ratios: reports.
February 2014
Passed
Dental coverage: provider notice of changes.
February 2012
Passed
Dental coverage: noncontracting providers: assignment of
February 2012
Failed
Dental coverage: noncovered benefits.
February 2010
Passed
Showing 8 of 8 items
Page 1 of 1