2023 legislative report

AzDA strengthened accountability and protected dental practices

During the 2023 legislative session, AzDA advanced insurance transparency, strengthened protections for dental practices, improved claims and credentialing standards, and helped shape clinical oversight legislation affecting Arizona dentists.

Insurance transparency Claims reform Practice protection Clinical oversight
5 major dental policy measures addressed
4 measures enacted into law
1 major claims and credentialing proposal advanced
3 core practice protections strengthened
Featured insurance reform

This law requires insurers to report how premium dollars are divided between patient care and company revenue. It provides dentists, patients, and policymakers with clearer information about insurance utilization and profitability.

Public reporting Patient-care transparency Greater insurer accountability
Insurance reform

Greater transparency, faster decisions, and stronger appeals

AzDA supported measures intended to make dental insurance operations more transparent and to improve how claims, appeals, and credentialing are handled.

HB2010

Medical loss ratio transparency

Signed into law
Why this matters

Insurers must disclose how much premium revenue is spent on patient care and how much remains for administration or company revenue.

  • Requires reporting of prior-year medical loss ratio data.
  • Makes actual patient-care spending more visible.
  • Helps policymakers evaluate patient utilization and provider rates.
  • Creates a foundation for stronger insurer accountability.
View enacted legislation ↗
HB2290

Claims, appeals, and credentialing reform

Advanced
Proposed practice impact

Creates clearer deadlines and procedures for claim disputes, appeals, payments, and dental provider credentialing.

  • Allows providers to request a hearing and appeal a decision.
  • Requires insurers to respond within specified deadlines.
  • Requires payment within 15 days after resolution.
  • Would reduce credentialing from 100 days to 45 days.
  • Requires notice of application deficiencies within seven days.
View bill text ↗
Practice protection

Clearer responsibility for patient records

This measure protects employed dentists by clarifying which party is legally responsible for maintaining patient records.

HB1226

Custodian of patient records

Signed into law
Why this matters

The law identifies the practice owner, rather than the treating employee dentist, as the custodian responsible for patient records.

This clarification protects dentists employed by small and large group practices from being assigned legal responsibility for records controlled by the practice owner.

Practice benefits
  • Creates clearer legal responsibility.
  • Protects employed dentists from inappropriate liability.
  • Aligns record custody with actual business control.
View enacted legislation ↗
Clinical oversight

Safeguarding professional standards

AzDA helped modify legislation affecting anesthesia oversight and dental hygienist scope of practice so that the final policy better reflected patient safety and appropriate collaboration.

2 measures amended
SB1602

CRNA anesthesia oversight

Amended
AzDA's advocacy impact

The original proposal would have placed certified registered nurse anesthetists on the same regulatory footing as dental anesthesiologists.

The legislation was amended to allow the Board of Dental Examiners' ad hoc committee to complete its work and provide recommendations before broader oversight changes were made.

View enacted legislation ↗
HB2473

Dental hygienist scope of practice

Amended and signed
AzDA's advocacy impact

The original proposal would have allowed dental hygienists to independently diagnose and prescribe.

The final measure instead allows hygienists to collaborate with dentists on treatment planning within the hygienist's education, training, and authorized scope of practice.

View enacted legislation ↗
Your representation at the Capitol

Policy decisions affect every dental practice

AzDA reviews proposed legislation, works with lawmakers and regulators, and advocates for practical policies that protect dentists, patients, and the dental profession.

Learn more about advocacy Join or renew with AzDA