MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1999 Regular Session

To: Insurance

By: Senator(s) Dearing

AN ACT TO REQUIRE THAT CERTAIN INSURANCE POLICIES AND PLANS PROVIDE MEDICAL BENEFITS WHEN DENTAL CARE IS PROVIDED UNDER PHYSICIAN-SUPERVISED GENERAL ANESTHESIA; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Every hospital, health or medical expenses insurance policy, hospital or medical service contract, health maintenance organization and preferred provider organization that is delivered or issued for delivery in this state and otherwise provides anesthesia benefits shall provide benefits for anesthesia and for associated facility charges when the mental or physical condition of the insured requires dental treatment to be rendered under physician-supervised general anesthesia in a hospital setting, surgical center or dental office. This required coverage shall include anesthesia services provided by oral and maxillofacial surgeons as permitted by the Mississippi State Board of Dental Examiners.

An insurer may require prior authorization for the anesthesia and associated facility charges for dental care procedures in the same manner that prior authorization is required for treatment of other medical conditions under general anesthesia. The benefit provided by this coverage shall be subject to the same annual deductibles or coinsurance established for all other covered benefits within a given policy, plan or contract. Private third party payers may not reduce or eliminate coverage due to these requirements.

A dentist shall consider the Indications for General Anesthesia as published in the reference manual of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry as utilization standards for determining whether performing dental procedures necessary to treat the particular condition or conditions of the patient under general anesthesia constitutes appropriate treatment.

The provisions of this act shall not apply to treatment rendered for temporal mandibular joint (TMJ) disorders.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1999.