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Read. Follow. Verify.Massachusetts Bill H.1174 Authorizes Direct Dental Care Agreements Bypassing Insurance
Last action · March 12, 2026: Accompanied a study order, see H5207Sponsor: Homar Gomez
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What This Bill Would Do
Massachusetts House Bill 1174 allows dentists and patients to enter into agreements based on periodic fees rather than traditional insurance arrangements. The bill explicitly exempts these agreements and participating dentists from regulation by the division of insurance. This measure changes how patients can pay for dental screening, assessment, and diagnosis.
Establishes a legal framework for subscription-style dental care models in Massachusetts, removing participating dental practices from insurance division oversight while setting mandatory contract requirements.
- Homar Gómez represents Easthampton in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. context
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Dentists
Licensed dentists are permitted to enter into direct dental care agreements with patients and are exempted from division of insurance oversight for these agreements.
Patients
Individuals are legally permitted to contract directly with dentists for care using periodic fee arrangements instead of insurance.
Division of Insurance
The division is explicitly barred from exercising oversight over direct dental care agreements and participating dentists regarding these agreements.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a direct dental care agreement?
Are direct dental care agreements regulated by the division of insurance?
Can a dentist submit a fee-for-service claim for services covered under a direct agreement?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
4 actions- Mar 12, 2026HouseAccompanied a study order, see H5207
- Oct 15, 2025JointHearing scheduled for 10/27/2025 from 10:30 AM-04:00 PM in Gardner Auditorium
- Feb 27, 2025SenateSenate concurred
- Feb 27, 2025HouseCommitteeReferred to the committee on Financial Services
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
malegislature.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance50How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy25Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz15Current news / social attention level
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