ADA News
April 14, 2010
WLC dentists shop ERISA reforms on the Hill
Washington—Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.) listened intently as Louisiana Dental Association visitors to his Capitol Hill office briefed him April 13 on dental issues under discussion at the ADA Washington Leadership Conference, interjecting little but a question here, an observation there.
But when it came to little-known legislation still under development, the congressman was right there. "Is that the Andrews' bill?" he asked. Indeed it was, and Rep. Robert Andrews (D-N.J.) that very day would introduce H.R. 5000 to amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to ensure health care coverage value and transparency for dental benefits under group health plans. Numbers are assigned in the order in which bills are introduced in a two-year Congress.
Talking of insurers dictating fees for services they don't even cover, the Louisiana dentists urged Rep. Scalise to sign on to the ERISA reform measure (ADA News Today Feb. 18, ADA mounts 'aggressive' lobby for ERISA reform). Among other provisions, the legislation would bar health plans that offer dental benefits from dictating fees for procedures the plan does not cover (see also Three legislative 'asks' top WLC agenda).
"When it comes out, we'll take a look at it," said Rep. Scalise, a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, which handles certain legislation of interest to the dental profession though not H.R. 5000, which was sent to the Committee on Education and Labor.
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| Capitol smiles: Following a discussion of dental issues April 13, Louisiana Dental Association visitors pose with Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.). Shown (from left) are LDA Executive Director Ward Blackwell, Dr. James A. Moreau, Rep. Scalise, Dr. David A. Kestel, Dr. L. King Scott, and Dr. Charles B. Foy, LDA past president. (Photo by Bill Geiger) |
But when it came to little-known legislation still under development, the congressman was right there. "Is that the Andrews' bill?" he asked. Indeed it was, and Rep. Robert Andrews (D-N.J.) that very day would introduce H.R. 5000 to amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to ensure health care coverage value and transparency for dental benefits under group health plans. Numbers are assigned in the order in which bills are introduced in a two-year Congress.
Talking of insurers dictating fees for services they don't even cover, the Louisiana dentists urged Rep. Scalise to sign on to the ERISA reform measure (ADA News Today Feb. 18, ADA mounts 'aggressive' lobby for ERISA reform). Among other provisions, the legislation would bar health plans that offer dental benefits from dictating fees for procedures the plan does not cover (see also Three legislative 'asks' top WLC agenda).
"When it comes out, we'll take a look at it," said Rep. Scalise, a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, which handles certain legislation of interest to the dental profession though not H.R. 5000, which was sent to the Committee on Education and Labor.
