Texas Dental Legislation - Governor Perry Signs SB 554 Into Law

The Texas Dental Association (TDA) is very pleased to report that on June 17, 2011 Governor Rick Perry signed into law Senate Bill 554, the TDA’s legislation which prevents insurance companies from setting fees on non-covered dental services.  The legislation will go into effect September 1, 2011.

This historic legislation protects Texas dentists from state-regulated insurance companies dictating fees for dental services they do not cover. Dentists and patients will now be able to determine appropriate treatment options without interference from insurance. Additionally, dentists will be able to charge the usual and customary fee for services rendered and will not be coerced into accepting a lower fee so that insurance companies may benefit.

The TDA’s legislative consultants diligently worked hand in hand with the TDA’s legislative staff to skillfully guide the bill throughout the entire legislative process. The TDA also thanks the Texas Academy of General Dentistry and the Texas Academy of Pediatric Dentistry for their support as well as the grassroots efforts of TDA dentists whose calls to legislators were instrumental in securing the bill’s final passage in the House and Senate and subsequent approval by Governor Perry.

Be on the lookout for a summary of all the session’s activities in both the July issue of the TDA Today and the October Texas Dental Journal.