AzDA represented Arizona dentists at the State Capitol by advancing insurance reform, protecting dental practices, addressing workforce challenges, and opposing legislation that could weaken professional oversight.
Arizona dentists gained a formal process for filing grievances against insurance companies through the Arizona Department of
Insurance and Financial Institutions. The measure also strengthens insurer accountability and establishes faster credentialing requirements.
These measures became law and produced direct benefits or protections for Arizona dental practices.
3 measures
HB2444
Insurance grievances and credentialing reform
Signed into law
Practice impact
Dentists now have a formal way to challenge denied, delayed,
or improperly disallowed claims through the Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions.
Creates an insurance grievance process through DIFI.
Establishes stronger standards for what insurers may disallow.
Requires reporting on the number of grievances filed.
Applies a 30-day credentialing timeline to dentists in private practice.
SB1070
Permanent virtual credit card opt-out
Signed into law
Practice impact
Practices no longer need to repeatedly opt out of virtual credit card payments every few months.
Requires insurers to honor a provider's payment preference.
The opt-out remains in place until contract renewal.
Providers may choose to opt back in at any time.
Reduces administrative work and avoidable processing fees.
HB2599
Coverage standards for experimental and off-label care
Signed into law
Important context
The Arizona Department of Insurance introduced this measure late in the legislative process, without prior stakeholder meetings with AzDA or other affected organizations.
The law allows insurers to deny reimbursement for procedures or treatments they classify as experimental or off-label, including the administration of Silver Diamine Fluoride. AzDA monitored and engaged in the legislation because of its potential effect on clinical treatment and reimbursement decisions.
Policy work continues
Legislative priorities advanced
These proposals did not become law in 2024, but they advanced important policy discussions and helped lay the foundation for future work.
4 measures
SB1037
Comprehensive AHCCCS dental care
Held
Proposed impact
Expand care beyond emergency services so that dentists can provide comprehensive treatment to adult AHCCCS patients.
The measure would have improved dentists' ability to deliver the care they considered clinically appropriate while allowing reimbursement for a broader range of services.
HB2306
Dental Board enforcement authority
Bill defeated
Proposed impact
Give the Dental Board clearer authority to issue cease-and-
desist communications to unlicensed entities.
Although the bill did not pass, the Arizona Attorney General's
Office later determined that the Board of Dental Examiners already has cease-and-desist authority.
HB2639
Modernized dental assistant certification
Bill defeated
Proposed impact
Create an additional pathway for dental assistants to qualify for credentials in coronal polishing and radiography.
The proposal would have allowed certification through either the
DANB examination or Dental Board-approved continuing education.
The effort led to ongoing, productive discussions with DANB.
HB2513
Preventive dental care for AHCCCS adults
Not funded
Proposed impact
Add preventive dental services to the existing $1,000 adult
AHCCCS dental benefit.
The proposal had previously passed both legislative chambers but was not included in the state budget due to broader budget constraints.
Professional protection
Harmful legislation defeated
Advocacy is also about stopping proposals that could weaken the profession or create unintended consequences.
1 measure
SB1154
Proposed change to BODEX composition
Defeated
Why AzDA opposed it
The proposal would have added another dental hygienist to the
Board of Dental Examiners, further reducing the proportion of dentists serving on the 11-member board.
AzDA opposed the measure because the Board already included only six dentists. Defeating the bill helped preserve an appropriate balance of clinical expertise among dentists, hygienists, and public members.
Your voice at the Capitol
Advocacy is a core AzDA member benefit
AzDA monitors legislation, works with policymakers, and represents the interests of Arizona dentists so that individual practitioners do not have to navigate these complex policy issues alone.
