Maryland requires health insurers and dental plans to permit assignment of benefits to dentists and directly reimburse nonpreferred providers

Maryland law now prohibits insurers and dental plan organizations from blocking the assignment of benefits to a dentist or refusing direct reimbursement to nonpreferred dentists. Nonpreferred dentists seeking an assignment of benefits must provide specific cost, balance billing, and fee disclosures to patients before rendering services. Insurers and dental plans are permitted to withhold direct reimbursement under specific administrative exceptions, such as prior payment to the insured or timely withdrawal of the assignment.

Patients using out-of-network dentists will have their insurance benefits assigned and paid directly to the provider under prescribed rules, while dentists must disclose estimated costs and potential balance billing charges prior to treatment.