The Academy of General Dentistry formally thanked Representatives Dave Loebsack (IA-2) and Buddy Carter (GA-1) for their sponsorship of H.R. 3762, the Dental and Optometric Care (DOC) Access Act. The legislation aims to ensure fairness in contracts between doctors and dental insurers and would allow dentists to charge an amount that is usual and customary for services not covered under an insurance plan rather than adhere to the insurer’s mandated fee schedule. Additionally, it will limit plan contracts to two years unless a dentist chooses to extend the contract for another term and includes a private right of action provision that allows individual doctors to take offending plans directly to court.

The AGD extended its support network to the legislators in letters stating, “the AGD stands ready to work with you and your staff to generate support for this important legislation and on future shared interests.” The AGD will continue to monitor developments of the DOC Access Act and actively work to garner support for the bill in Congress.

Impact on General Dentistry: This DOC Access Act will help to bring better practices and free-market principles back into the healthcare system while ensuring fairness in agreements between doctors and insurance providers.