ADA calls for greater oversight of dental insurance markets
ADA calls for greater oversight of dental insurance markets
Association raises concerns about insurer concentration, contracting practices, Medicare Advantage dental benefits

The ADA is urging Congress to strengthen oversight of dental insurance markets while ensuring that policies aimed at improving competition and preventing fraud do not create unnecessary burdens for independent dental practices.
In comments submitted to the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust, the Association outlined several dental-related issues ahead of the Subcommittee’s Sept. 14 field hearing, “Examining Healthcare Markets: Fraud and Competition.” The hearing addressed health care competition, insurance practices and other market issues.
The ADA said dental insurance markets should be included in broader discussions of health care competition, noting that insurer market structure and practices can affect patient access, provider choice and dental practices.
“The ADA supports vigorous, evidence-based enforcement against fraud and anticompetitive conduct,” the Association wrote. “At the same time, policy responses should be targeted to the source of the problem and should not impose broad new burdens on independent dental practices that are unlikely to improve program integrity or competition.”